New TV’s and ‘clickers’ following generous donation to NHS Orkney  

Posted on:

TV Donation with staff and family present

A donation of eight new TVs has been made to NHS Orkney following a collection at the late, Jimmy Millar’s funeral. Jimmy Millar, husband of Brenda Millar and Dad to NHS Orkney’s Patient Experience Officer, Julie Tait sadly passed away earlier this year. Before passing, Mr Millar spent some time in the Macmillan ward where he loved to watch TV.

Brenda said: “Jimmy loved watching TV, especially football and a good cowboy film. However, when he was admitted to The Balfour he struggled to work ‘the clicker’ (his name for the TV remote) and there were limited channels available. Although all the staff were fantastic with helping it was a constant frustration for him during his time in hospital.”

Julie said: “Those who attended dad’s funeral very kindly left donations and after a conversation with my mum, we decided new, easier to use TVs with more channels for the Macmillan Ward would be the perfect way to honour his memory and improve the experience for other patients in the future.”

Brenda and Julie were able to purchase eight new TVs with help from the IT Team at NHS Orkney with the kind donations made at Jimmy’s funeral. The new TVs were even tested to ensure they were suitable for all, had a range of channels available and an easy to use ‘clicker’. The feedback from the patients in the Dialysis Unit who trialled the TVs was that that all the patients “loved them!”. The new TVs have been split with some already in situ in the Macmillan Ward and the others going to Inpatients 2 (Hlin Assessment and Rehabilitation Ward).

Sam Thomas, Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHP’s and Chief Officer Acute Services at NHS Orkney said: “This generous donation from Julie, Brenda and their family and friends will make a real difference to our patients when they are staying in The Balfour.”

Pictured left to right: Linzi Mowatt Macmillan and palliative care specialist nurse, Brenda Miller, Patsy Hall Macmillan nurse, Julie Tait and Richard Bland IT project officer.