A kind-hearted Fife woman has helped ensure a more comfortable stay for patients and staff at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital by securing five new TVs.
Penny Christie, who lives in Kirkcaldy, regularly visits the stroke ward and the hospice with her dog Noah, who was the youngest pup to qualify to become a Pets at Therapy volunteer.
Penny, a Sky TV employee, wanted to do something extra special to help perk up the patients and visitors and set about holding a fundraising raffle to pay for a couple of new TVs for the wards.
However after hearing about her efforts Sky stepped in to offer her five 32-inch TVs. She was also offered eight sponsored NOWTV boxes which can be moved from ward to ward, allowing patients and nurses to keep up with their favourite programmes.
Those were all handed over to the stroke ward in ward 42 and the hospice on Wednesday and Penny hopes they will benefit not only patients and staff but also relatives who come to visit.
Penny said she had been particularly struck by the tale of a 40-year-old policeman who was in the final days of his life but had been watching a jewellery channel on TV as there was nothing else on.
“It’s funny how something so simple can make a difference,” Penny added.
“It can also help when people are bringing kids in to see their relatives because the children are in an environment that’s safe, it gives them something to focus on and that gives people some more quality time with the ones they love.”