3 Jun 2021 Business Buddies

Dedicated supporters Towngate PLC provide funding for specialist equipment

Towngate PLC, based in Brighouse, have been avid supporters of The Kirkwood for many years. After joining The Kirkwood Business Movement in May, the team have funded a new specialist piece of equipment for patients.

For many years, Towngate PLC have offered their support to The Kirkwood in a variety of ways. Their most recent support - funding the purchase of specialist equipment for our In-Patient Unit, based in Dalton – will help to improve the quality of life for hundreds of people in Kirklees.

Patients who are struggling to manage the symptoms of their life limiting condition, or those who are entering their last few days of life, are often admitted onto our In-Patient Unit for round-the-clock care.

To help our teams provide care in the best possible way, specialist equipment is needed to help make our patients feel as comfortable as possible. Towngate PLC have been instrumental in kitting out our In-Patient Unit with vital equipment and have recently offered to fully fund a new bath stretcher to help patients in and out of the bath.

Elspeth McGloughlin, Senior Occupational Therapist with The Kirkwood, says: “Having this new bath stretcher will enable our most unwell patients to still experience the relaxation, and easing of some symptoms a bath can provide.

“Some patients are unable to use more conventional bathing equipment due to symptoms such as pain and psychological distress. Having this new stretcher will allow us to support individuals with the most complex of needs, to engage in an activity most people take for granted.

“We ensure the environment is relaxing and therapeutic, having mood lighting and relaxing music, and having this new stretcher will enhance this experience further, providing a bathing solution that is of minimal effort to the patients, and safe for staff to use.”

Supporting The Kirkwood has always been important to the employees at Towngate PLC, but a personal experience felt by the whole team over the last 12 months has only increased their eagerness for helping The Kirkwood Support Life in Kirklees.

Towngate’s Charitable Giving Committee adds: “Shortly after the commencement of the first lockdown last year we very sadly lost our dear friend and colleague, Stephen Guy. Stephen had always been the heart and soul of the charity committee and was a real champion of The Kirkwood and the wonderful work they do.

“It is now even more important to us than ever before to help our local community however we can and to continue the great work Stephen started. We know the bath stretcher will make many patients’ lives that bit easier and how delighted Stephen would have been to know we could help The Kirkwood by purchasing this piece of equipment for them.”

We’d like to thank Towngate PLC for their ongoing support.