A former patient at the Buckinghamshire Neurorehabilitation Unit (BNRU) at Amersham Hospital is encouraging locals to help “brighten the days” of patients in recovery.
Samantha Hayes Purvis worked as a paramedic with the NHS for 29 years, but had to stop working when she had brain surgery in February 2022. During her operation, Sam suffered a stroke and spent three months in the BNRU. Having gone from an emergency care provider to receiving full-time care herself, Sam was in a unique position to evaluate how the lives of patients could be improved.
She said: “The care provided by doctors and nurses at the BNRU is absolutely brilliant, but through no fault of the staff, there just wasn’t enough of the smaller, fun things that make life bearable.”
Unable to return to work as a paramedic following her stroke, Sam decided to do something to help the ward that supported her recovery.
“I visit the hospital just to talk to people and listen to their problems,” she explained.
“About a month ago, I started getting other people involved through Facebook. Now there’s a woman who comes in and does circus tricks, and we have a school coming in to perform Christmas carols.
“There’s one visitor who plays the keyboard, and a girl who comes in to sing. Sometimes, they bring in instruments so that the patients can play along.”
Alongside organising visitors, Sam is also raising funds to buy various items for the BNRU.
She said: “A few patients told me they wished there was a big television so that they could have movie afternoons, so I’ve set up a GoFundMe.”
Any additional funds raised will go towards other projects that help to enhance patient care for the BRNU, and where the need is greatest.
To find out more, please contact Sam via email at sammynutkins@hotmail.com
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/bucks-neuro-rehab-unit
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