Midcheshire Independent Issue 165

MAY 2024 14 Independent HEALTH & WELLBEING Why choose us? � Expert clinical dental technicians � Highly skilled in creating bespoke natural-looking dentures � Dentures made at our on-site laboratory � The very latest materials and techniques used � Improve your facial aesthetics and chewing ability � Implant supported dentures We’ll create that perfect smile Call now for a FREE consultation 0161 477 5448 Mr J. Kamal Bsc (hons) Dental Technology (Manchester) Dip CDT (UCLAN Preston) Stockport Denture Clinic Stockport Denture Clinic 37 Great Portwood Street, Stockport SK1 2DW stockportdentureclinic@gmail.com www.stockportdentureclinic.co.uk Come smile with us! I WAS born at CongletonWar Memorial Hospital andmost of my family have lived in the town for much of their life. My great grandma (nee Frost) was a community midwife in the town in the late 1920s, so my family were all quite excited when I decided I wanted to go into nursing. I went to school in Congleton, completed my nurse training in Manchester and came back to Congleton in 1985 to get mar- ried before starting to work at the hospital. The hospital means a lot to the community of Congleton and throughout my time, fam- ily members of relatives in the hospital would always say ‘what would we do without this hospi- tal’ because of the fantastic care their relative has received. When I looked after patients in the early 80s, predominantly older people, they would always share the memory of how the local community would pay for the hospital and how proud they were to contribute to the local hospital. The theme of the commu- nity supporting the hospital has remained over the years. In particular during Covid-19 when there was a shortage of PPE, and we were given addi- tional scrubs from local sewing factories in the town. You can see how tight the community is and how much they value the hospital and what it does for the town. Our philosophy is, ‘if that was one of your relatives, how would you want them to be looked after’ so we pride ourselves on the level of care and that shows in the gold accreditation we received. Some of the staff don’t want to retire because they enjoy it so much. It’s coming to work but it’s also joining your family as well. We all have the same aim to provide good quality care and because you do that, you enjoy coming to work. When I first came to the hos- pital, we had a social club and it’s always been like a family working here. When I started there were many staff who had been there for many years and that theme seems to continue and people working here have been around for a long time. Now we have international nurses, and they too have become like our family as they’ve come here, and their families are all abroad. EAST Cheshire NHS Charity has launched an appeal to sup- port the wellbeing of patients and staff at Congleton War Memo- rial Hospital. With the hospital cele- brating its 100th anniver- sary on May 22 this year, the charity is calling on businesses, supporters and members of the public to help raise £10,000 to help towards a number of well- being initiatives. Donations will go towards the installation of comfortable seating and secluded rest spots, allowing hospital staff to relax and unwind close to nature during their breaks and the transfor- mation of clinical envi- ronments with calming murals and artwork. A new wellbeing gar- den will also be built in unused outdoor space at the hospital to provide a welcoming, tranquil new green space which will provide patients, visitors and staff with an outdoor environment that is safe and secure and designed to promote wellness and decrease stress. Jo Hodgkinson, senior sister on the Aston Ward at the hospital, said: “The appeal will make a huge difference and will provide staff with a space to relax and unwind away from the pressures of the hospital. “Patients and their families will benefit too as it will offer them a safe and secure space which will help to reduce the distress and anxiety potentially caused by a stay in hospital.” There are a number of ways you can get involved by hosting your own fundraising event, mak- ing a one-off donation or joining East Cheshire NHS Charity’s 100 Club which provides many ben- efits to businesses whilst also helping to make a difference to the experi- ence of patients, families and staff. Congleton Town Coun- cil is also hosting its own special centenary celebra- tion on Monday May 27 between noon and 5pm at Congleton Park with a range of 1920s themed activities taking place to mark the momen- tous milestone. SPECIAL REPORT Hospital at the heart of the community Memories: Sta! nurse Sue Smith (Photo credit: East Cheshire NHS Trust) AS part of Congleton War Memorial Hospital’s 100th anniversary celebrations this year, staff nurse Sue Smith shares her memories from the past 40 years So, we like to make sure that they are all looked after and with myself being from Congle- ton I want to make sure they enjoy being in the town. The hospital has been a big part of my life and it’s a big part of our community. For me working here means a lot and it makes me proud being from the town too. It’s brilliant to be cel- ebrating its 100th anniversary and we look forward to its next 100 years! Wellbeing appeal marks a centenary milestone Support: Sta! from AstonWard at CongletonWar Memorial Hospital and fundraising manager Lily Preston