A £10,000 donation from the Former Dorchester Social Stroke Club to Dorset County Hospital Charity has helped transform the Stroke Unit at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
The donation has funded new artwork featuring iconic Dorset landscapes and landmarks, to help bring the local area into the Unit to create a familiar and welcoming environment which could help aid recovery for patients.
The Arts in Hospital team worked with local artists including Anna Crennell, who created the mural in the day room, with stroke patients in mind. The images feature recognisable locations across Dorset, offering patients opportunities to recall memories and connect with their local surroundings.
The remaining funds have supported the Unit’s gardening group, providing equipment and funding activities for patients.
Members of the Former Dorchester Social Stroke Club visited the Stroke Ward to see the improvements their donation had made possible. Jackie Sherfield, who founded the club said, “This project means a great deal to our members, many of whom have personal experience of strokes or caring for someone who has had a stroke. They understood the importance of creating a welcoming space where patients could spend time away from their beds and worked incredibly hard to raise the funds to make this possible.
“We are absolutely delighted with the finished project and incredibly proud of what our members have achieved. It is wonderful to see their efforts making a real difference to patients, and we are very grateful to have been invited to see the results. Although the club has now closed, it is particularly special to know that its legacy will live on through this space, continuing to benefit patients for years to come.”
