The Wildgoose Wing takes off!
Whitworth Hospital in Darley Dale has honoured its longest serving friend and supporter Pam Wildgoose by naming the hospital’s outpatient area after her.
The Wildgoose Wing took flight with signage now in place on the previously unnamed wing of the hospital on Bakewell Road.
91-year-old Pam has served as secretary and honorary secretary of Matlock Hospitals League of Friends for 56 years - and counting. She was one of the very first committee members elected when the league was formed in 1967 and has served on the committee continuously ever since.
Whitworth Hospital-based senior specialist nurse and clinical lead for urgent care, Melissa Dalton, said: “Pam is the most amazing friend to us at the hospital and we wanted to do something special for her. This was the best way we could think to say thank you, short of putting her name up in lights, we have put it up in nice big letters instead!”
Retired teacher Pam from Matlock said: “When Melissa told me about the Wildgoose Wing idea I was in tears because it seemed too good to be true. It’s lovely!”
Pam received an MBE in 1989 for her voluntary work. Over the past half-century Matlock Hospitals League of Friends has invested well over £3 million in NHS facilities locally, including major investment to enhance the environment and facilities for patients, staff and families at Whitworth Hospital.
Back in 1967, the first item the league was requested to provide was a piano for the ward. In more recent times the league has funded £127,000 towards the upgrade of the urgent treatment centre to create additional treatment rooms and is currently funding work to create additional outpatient consulting rooms.
Other significant projects which have been made possible with league of friends’ funding include: the development of the physiotherapy unit, refurbishment of Oker Ward, major hospital car park expansions, provision of ultrasound podiatric and ophthalmic diagnostic equipment.