Weymouth Golf Club funds new ICU visitors’ waiting room
Work on new waiting area now complete following COVID delay
Last updated 17th Jun 2022
A new waiting and visitor's room has been funded by Weymouth Golf Club members in the Intensive Care Unit at Dorset County Hospital.
After seeing the existing waiting area in the ICU, the then new Ladies’ Captain, Sue Stroudley, felt the visitors’ facilities could be improved to make the waiting experience for family and friends of patients in the ICU better.
After selecting Dorset County Hospital as her charity of the year, Sue was delighted when the Weymouth Golf Club Captain, Frank Martin, agreed to support the Hospital during the same year, significantly increasing the fundraising potential.
Sue led the fundraising activities at the Golf Club during 2019/20 which included competition days and raffles. The total amount raised by the whole club was £3,859.97.
Sue said:
"We are delighted that our fundraising at Weymouth Golf Club during our year of Captaincy has resulted in much improved facilities for ICU relatives at what is likely to be a very stressful and emotional time for them.”
After an initial delay due to the COVID pandemic, work on the new waiting area has now been completed. The staff office has also been moved to a more convenient location on the unit. The improved visitor space has two sections including a separate private room which is especially valuable when more than one group or family need to use the facilities.
The whole area has been reconfigured and fitted out with new flooring and fixtures and painted in calming colours. Patients’ relatives can now come and go without disturbing staff or patients on the unit.
Louise Turner, a Senior Sister in CRCU said:
“We are very grateful to Sue and all the members of Weymouth Golf club for their kindness and hard work in fundraising on our behalf. Their generosity has enabled us to greatly improve the waiting area for the families and friends of patients in our ICU including a completely private room which was not previously available. We know this can make a big difference at what can be a very difficult time.”
Duncan Chambler, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine said:
“I'd like to thank everyone involved in pulling this project together. I'm so excited that, after two years of discussion (and COVID) we have finally revamped our relatives’ areas and our office space.
"This is a real boost for the team and will be appreciated by visitors too. Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and especially the donors for supporting this project.”
Dorset County Hospital Charity continues to work with its many supporters, donors and fundraisers raising money for departments right across the Hospital.
To make a donation or find out more please visit www.dchcharity.org.uk. To contact the DCH Charity team phone 01305 253215 or email Charity@dchft.nhs.uk