Warrington Hospital patients receive recordable teddy donation

Shaun Ryan, owner of Grappenhall-based Protive Security and Surveillance, recently bought 50 recordable teddy bears to give to patients and their loved ones at the Lovely Lane site.

These special teddies allow those in particularly special circumstances, such as patients in palliative or intensive care, to listen to pre-recorded messages from their friends and families who have not been able to visit them in hospital due to Covid restrictions.

One teddy was given to the daughter of an organ donor to keep after she sadly passed away after the ICU team suggested that they record her mum’s heartbeat.

Another 20 of the teddies were gifted to patients in Warrington Hospital’s ICU, both awake and on ventilators, as medics say that patients can still hear when they are ventilated.

In such cases, staff held the teddies to the patient's ears and played the recordings a few times.

“There were a lot of happy tears from patients as they longed to hear the voices of their loved ones. It was something they can keep and cherish forever,” said ICU ward clerk Anna Bruen.

Carla Preston, ICU senior sister, commented: “It was emotional, but an emotion that created a new strength of courage with patients expressing their determination to recover.

Helen Higginson receives a special delivery from Shaun Ryan and Paul Fowler of Protive Security

“Patients and their loved ones expressed their gratitude, and those teddies created a connection that brought great comfort to all.”

Shaun felt compelled to buy the teddies in memory of his wife Samantha, who sadly passed away last year after being diagnosed with cancer.

She had previously received emergency care from the staff at Warrington Hospital, and Shaun wanted to do something to give back. His sister is also a midwife at the hospital.

He expressed that he was ‘overwhelmed’ to hear how these teddies have impacted patients and their families and that he is ‘proud to be able to help’.

He became aware of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals’ Charity during a local Business Networking International meeting.

Here, the charity’s fundraising manager Helen Higginson came in and talked to them about all of the work that the charity was doing.

Helen said: “Charity staff work really hard to continue providing additional comforts, care, experiences for our patients.

“So, when we find ourselves in the fortunate position where a donor can hear just how their support has impacted our patients, it truly is heart-warming for all involved.”