Socks appeal helps Keighley hospital (From Keighley News)

Socks appeal helps Keighley hospital

12:00am Friday 8th February 2013 in Keighley By Keighley News reporter

A facility at Airedale Hospital designed to make admissions more comfortable and less traumatic for patients has been given more than 200 pairs of socks.

The donation has been made to Airedale Hospital’s Dignity Room, to tie in with National Dignity Day. The event is designed to promote the importance of maintaining people’s privacy and respect whenever they have to use care facilities.

Socks were given by Craven Masonic Lodge, which used its annual Christmas party to invite members and their guests to fill large Santa sacks with as many as possible, collecting 243 pairs in total.

A raffle held at the same event raised £250, which has also been donated to the hospital to enhance its work for patients with dementia.

Martin Barrow, master of Craven Masonic Lodge, said “We chose to support the privacy and dignity work of staff at Airedale Hospital because the way patients are treated is so very important.

“I sincerely hope the donations will go some way to supporting the excellent work staff are doing.

“Both myself and my wife, who works at the hospital, have a passion for supporting older people, particularly those with dementia, which is why I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity.”

Airedale’s Dignity Room was set up to support patients with essential items, such as socks, clothes and deodorant, if they are unexpectedly admitted into hospital.

Fiona Throp, senior nurse for older people at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “These socks are a great boost to our dignity room, and donations like this one will go a long way to making sure the room is sustained.”