Gym joy for rehab hospital

The Mayor of Fylde, Coun Kevin Eastham, said the newly refurbished ward at Clifton Hospital in St Annes will bring great benefits to local patients.

Coun Eastham, who visited the Clifton Drive South-based site with wife Valerie, said: “It is very interesting to see the difference between this newly refurbished ward and the others in the hospital.

“There has been so much care and consideration given to the scheme which I hope brings great benefits to the treatment of the patients who clearly have very special and significant extra care needs.”

Coun Eastham made the annual mayoral visit and tour around the hospital earlier this month.

The new features include a completely new paint scheme, layout and flooring, reception area for the ward and a new nurses station to monitor 
patients.

Hospital matron Courtney Bickerdike added: “The new layout of the ward makes it easier for us but by far the biggest changes are actually the simplest.

“The cosmetic changes make the biggest difference to the patients who mostly suffer with dementia and so have very different needs.”

The refurbishment is being further enhanced thanks to an appeal by Blue Skies Hospitals Fund, the charity behind Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The £30,000 Peace of Mind dementia appeal will pay for the creation of a memory corridor at Clifton, as well as other hospital sites across the Fylde coast.