Four mosques and a Lancashire charity have donated £13,600 to assist stroke patients at Royal Blackburn and Pendle Community hospitals.

The donations, presented to specialist stroke nurses and members of the East Lancashire Hospitals Chaplaincy service, will provide eight specialist chairs for patients following donations from Masjid-e-Anwaar, Masjeed-e-Sajedeen, Masjid-e-Noorul Islam, Masjid-e-Hidaya and Al-Imdaad Foundation.

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Nurses, therapists and members of the Chaplaincy service at East Lancashire Hospitals gratefully receive a £3,400 donation from members of the Masjid-e-Hidaya

Fundraising for the eight stroke chairs was the idea of Imam Fazal Hassan from the hospital chaplaincy department, working in partnership with Blackburn community organisations. 

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Nurses, therapists and members of the Chaplaincy service at East Lancashire Hospitals gratefully receive a £3,400 donation from members of the Masjid-e-Noorul Islam

Asian Image: A £3,400 donation was presented by members of the Masjid-e-Noorul Islam

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A £1,700 donation was presented by staff at the Al Imdaad Foundation in Blackburn

Each of the eight chairs is fully adjustable, giving patients greater support, increased safety and extra mobility as they recover following a stroke.
B2 Ward Manager Yvonne Potts said: “All the patients and staff on our stroke wards are very thankful to the community of Blackburn for these magnificent donations. 

"The chairs really help improve the care we provide for stroke patients.

“In the last couple of years, we have totally restructured our stroke service and now provide patients with first class care from admission following an acute stroke, through to specialist stroke rehabilitation.”

Hafez Abdussamad Mulla, Al-Imdaad Foundation Country Director, said: “It’s an honour to support our local hospital. 

"When Muslim Chaplain Fazal Hassan got in touch, we were delighted to get involved and fundraise for this equipment which really will make a difference for local people who have suffered a stroke.”

Hospital staff have ordered the eight chairs, which need to be specially made, with delivery scheduled for early in 2017.

Royal College of Physicians guidelines state that patients with stroke should be offered frequent opportunities to sit out from their hospital bed and practice activity to aid their rehabilitation.