The Middlesbrough branch of Darlington Building Society has helped the families of those in The James Cook’s Intensive Care Unit, thanks to a donation from its community fund.
The Linthorpe Road branch has made a £250 donation from the Society’s community fund to purchase essential items for the relatives’ room, which is used by those who have a family member being treated on the critical care unit.
The relatives’ room is exclusively used by one family for their immediate and urgent need which is usually the first 48-hours of the patient’s stay. The room is equipped with bed settees and a small bathroom offering shower facilities. The donation will go towards a refurbishment of the room, bringing it up to a better standard for the relatives stay.
Susan Snee, Customer Service Consultant at Darlington Building Society, originally proposed the donation following her own stay in the relatives’ room. She said: “I stayed in the relatives’ room for a short amount of time when my father was receiving treatment at James Cook.
“It was during my stay that I noticed that all of the items in the room were donated. After speaking with a few of the nurses I found out that the room relies solely on donations to stay open, which I found really surprising.
“After using the room myself, I can’t stress how crucial it is that the room remains available to families of those who are on the unit. Not many people know that the room relies purely on donations to stay open, which is one of the reasons why I felt so strongly that the Society should provide some assistance.
“The relatives’ room is a fantastic facility, which allows people to be near their loved ones, providing them with some relief during what is, for many people, a stressful time.”
Debbie Craddock, ward manager on the unit, said: “We are very grateful to the Darlington Building Society and especially Susan for this donation. The room provides close family with the opportunity to remain close by their relative during what is a very distressing times for them. Support like this means we will be able to enhance those small comforts within the room.”