A family of an Acocks Green man have visited the hospital ward which cared for him in his final days to hand over a special donation in his memory.
Michael Green sadly passed away at Solihull Hospital, part of Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, last May at the age of 81 after a long and courageous fight with Parkinson’s disease. He was cared for at the end on Ward 20A and his family were keen to do something in his memory for the elderly care ward.
Michael was born in Galway in Ireland but had lived in Acocks Green for over 50 years with wife Peggy and they had four children and six grandchildren. His niece Fiona works as a matron at Solihull Hospital.
Michael’s son Mike described his father as a ‘quiet and unassuming man’ but ‘very witty’. He said the family were keen to give something back to the ward as a token of their appreciation for the care their dad received.
He said: “While my dad was here the staff did such a great job. We knew he was going but the care and attention he and the family received was first class – they did everything they could for us day and night.
“We raised about £1,200 at his funeral and decided to give it to the ward where he was treated. When we asked what they needed they said a comfortable chair for visitors would be really useful. When you are here for hours on end with your relative it is not ideal to have just a plastic chair to sit on.
“It will go in the side room where my dad was treated in his final days which is nice and as it is green it will be known as the green chair in his honour.”
Ward 20A senior sister Ann Bocock and charge nurse Ross Manuel took delivery of the chair from the family and Ann wanted to thank them for their kind gesture.
She said: “It is wonderful that Michael’s family wanted to make this donation to the ward and this chair will be of great use for patients and relatives. It is a difficult time for friends and family when someone they love is coming to the end of their life and we do all we can to make sure they are supported and as comfortable as possible. It is lovely for us all to see the family again and hear them speak so highly of the care Michael received while he was with us.”
