The Stroke Association's ‘Make May Purple’ campaign swept through our wards and the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) had great fun throughout the week with activities for patients, relatives and staff.
The aim was to promote greater awareness of stroke symptoms and how to reduce stroke risk factors as well as raising funds for patient engagement activities AND raising a smile for patients, relatives and staff. The result was this amazing selection of photos.
Staff were excited to decorate the wards with bunting and balloons. Health promotion display areas were developed in the canteen with specialist stroke nurse Maybelle Tambis Bolt and in the reception areas and on the wards 7a,b, c & d. Physiotherapy student Charlotte Adams created an amazing display board in-between wards 7a and 7b showing how physiotherapy is an integral part of recovery after a stroke.
To get the Act FAST message out to the public, they joined the craze of pebble painting. Staff put their artistic talents to good use and got painting.
Nurse Gary Miles, said: "The patients' relatives and staff really enjoyed helping to “hide” them around the hospital. After a few weeks we had painted over 50 pebbles. They ask the finder to post a photo to the ‘Calderdale Rocks’ and our own ‘Stroke “Act Fast”’ Facebook page and then to rehide it, in order to keep the message going. Staff and patients had great fun in decorating pebbles, patients loved being creative and enjoyed the social aspect of being sat around a big table together.
"The session was ended with a bit of a pamper and some of the ladies chose to have their nails painted, a great end to a fab day."
The Speech & Language Therapy team hosted a coffee morning with the focus on better understanding of communication and swallowing problems experienced as a result of a stroke. All were welcome and so there was a broad mix of patients, family, carers and staff present. Treats and snacks were available in a variety of textures to ensure patients with dysphagia (swallowing problems) could all enjoy a sweet treat.
For Friday's party, staff brought in some delicious cakes, exotic fruits and tantalising snacks. The mouth-watering foods were accompanied with refreshments very kindly provided by Heidi Hirst from ISS. The exotic fruit salads were made by ward manager Lisa Wilkinson. A wonderful cake made by staff nurses Anita Farrell - was almost too pretty and creative to eat! The best trifle this side of New York! Purple perfection! Thank you ward manager Rebecca Sykes-Elwers.
Our fantastic domestic and healthcare team tried on their purple wigs for fit and style in preparation for the party.
Patients were assisted to the day-room with their relatives. Patients were thrilled with the engagement of the afternoon. A patient was telling Yorkshire Dialect jokes to all and everyone really enjoyed the laughter. Food and drinks were served, we tempted patients with snacks and delicious cakes and soft drinks.
"The atmosphere was electric!"
The team were delighted that Chief Exec Owen Williams, Chief Nurse Brendan Brown and Matron Chris Lord-Tyrer came to the party.
‘An Evening with Dr Nair and the Stoke Team’ followed at 7pm. Our Research nurses and Thrombolysis nurses were available for a Q&A session to ask our Dr Nair questions. It was headed: Acute and Rehabilitation Stroke, the future of stroke and statistics.
To end Stroke Week staff members and friends took part in the 23-mile Todmorden Boundary Walk and the 12-mile Pike Hike, each including the Stoodley Pike monument. They were blessed with beautiful weather albeit a tad windy at the top! They hope to have raised about £200 for the Stroke Association
The Stroke team is holding a Grand raffle, first prize is £50 cash and a J.D. Wetherspoon £20 voucher towards food, plus many more great prizes - full list attached below.
Raffle tickets £1 and these can be bought from wards 7a,b,c and d. And the draw will take place on Friday 22nd June.
Funds raised will be spent on patient engagement activities
The week was a fabulous success! A BIG Thank you to everyone who contributed and made our ‘Stroke Awareness Week’ possible - What a brilliant team!