Skegness nurses are raising money to fundraise for training and long-term care for their new four-legged staff member
Lincolnshire NHS charity is supporting staff at Scarbrough Ward in Skegness Hospital to raise funds to pay for their new therapy dogs training and long-term care on the ward.
The team at the ward have now raised enough money to purchase a gorgeous labrador puppy, called ‘Rammie’. Rammie is named after Dr Ram, who works at the hospital and gave a generous donation towards the appeal. Rammie will help rehabilitation and end of life care patients and their loved ones on the ward.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) runs the 15 bed unit which includes three palliative care beds (for the relief of the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness).
Dogs have been providing comfort and companionship for humans for hundreds of years. More recently, the presence of these animals in hospital settings as therapy dogs has been recognised as enormously beneficial for rehabilitation and end of life care patients. Specially trained therapy dogs can support patients and their families physically, emotionally and socially.
To raise money, the staff at Scarbrough Ward have been participating in a number of fundraising activities including:
- a sponsored skydive
- an 18 mile walk from Skegness to Chapel St. Leonards along the beach
- raffles
- the team recently hosted a ‘Clinical Team Lead in the stocks’ day where people donated money to throw a wet sponge at a clinical team lead in the stocks
- a 24 hour bikeathon
The money raised will help to pay for Rammie’s training and long-term care.
Vicky Smith, Staff Nurse, said: “This is such an amazing cause and we are so pleased to welcome Rammie on to the ward. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far, we really could not have achieved this without your generosity.
“Rammie will work alongside our staff members to care for and comfort patients and their loved ones.
“We are still asking members of the public to continue to support us and, if possible, donate towards this excellent cause, by going to the Virgin Money Giving page:
