A hospital therapist and a local supermarket have teamed up to help provide a collection of much needed sensory equipment for patients.
The toys and games have been donated by Morrisons Teesside Park Community Champion to the critical care unit at the University Hospital of North Tees.
This was following a request from Sadie Gardener, a therapy assistant at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, to the supermarket’s community champion Jane Fisher.
Rachel Dimmick, clinical specialist respiratory physiotherapist, said: “For some time, we have identified a need for more sensory equipment we can use to help patients in intensive care.
“These are vital in helping the therapy team in their work to improve and monitor the cognitive function of patients.
“Thanks to Sadie and the relationships she already had with the community champion scheme at Morrisons, she was able to get this fantastic donation of goods.
“We would like to acknowledge the role Sadie has played in this as well as thank community champion Jane and everyone at Morrisons for such a generous donation.”
Sadie added: “Within just days of asking, a mass of items had been offered to us, coming to more than £1,000 in value.
“This donation really will make a significant difference to the rehab care we can deliver to patients who need it and we are so grateful to Jane and everyone at Morrisons for arranging this.”
The donated items include things like fidget toys, colouring books, Spiderman files and colour your own bags, pinball, loom band boards, nerf balls, puzzle balls and scratch art.