Blandford Hospital team celebrating the wedding
Dorset HealthCare staff at Blandford Hospital have come together to help one couple ‘walk down the aisle’ by organising and celebrating their wedding with them.
A very ill gentleman was admitted to the hospital at the end of July and staff were inspired by his story as he wished he had been able to marry his long-term girlfriend. Determined to make this dream a reality, staff went straight into action and, in less than two weeks, had found a room at the hospital to host the ceremony and reception, organised catering and decorated the room and patio area. Friends and family then joined the couple, who wish to remain anonymous, for an intimate celebration on Friday 7 August.
Darren Wickwar, Matron at Blandford Hospital, said: “This is the first ever wedding we have hosted at Blandford Hospital and I have been overwhelmed by how passionate and motivated staff have been to help realise this very deserving couple’s wedding day. We have all been humbled by being involved in their special day and I think this really demonstrates how NHS staff so often go above and beyond their day-to-day job. It makes me so proud to have these individuals on my team and I really hope that the couple thoroughly enjoyed their day. I would like to thank all members of staff who helped make this day a reality, many of whom took time out of their free hours, and to the League of Friends for their generous donation towards this day.”
Further inspired by the wedding, Blandford Hospital has transformed the ceremony room into a permanent relative’s room. Darren added: “much of the care we provide at the hospital is palliative so it is hugely important to help our patients and their relatives feel supported and comfortable in any way possible. Since hosting this wedding, we have been able to transform the room where we held the ceremony and reception into a relatives’ room. I think the wedding makes a lovely start to a part of the hospital where I hope patients and relatives can come together and enjoy being a family.”
