THE charity tea bar run by volunteers at Inverclyde Royal has been boosted by a donation of a new fridge.

The Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends (ILHF) facility, which provides a seven day a week service for staff, patients and visitors to the hospital, has seen its business return to pre-pandemic levels over recent months.

Business has been so brisk that an additional fridge was required to provide storage for the increasing amount of meat, milk, cheese, vegetables, fruit and yoghurts which the tea bar uses each day.

Support was provided by Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, who were delighted to fund the new fridge after a nomination from colleagues at the Greenock branch.

Myra King, customer consultant at the local YBS branch in West Blackhall Street, said: “The Helen Wyllie Tea Bar at Inverclyde Royal is a great asset to the hospital and to the local community.

"Getting a smile and a cup of tea at the tea bar helps to lift the mood of many who come to the hospital.”

David Nolan, branch manager, added: “We are delighted to assist the Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends with this donation from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation."

Peter Hempsey, chairperson of the League of Hospital Friends, said: "My thanks to the local YBS branch for taking such an interest in the tea bar.

"We are fortunate in Inverclyde to have such an appreciative and supportive community for our volunteer service.”

In the past year the Inverclyde League of Hospital Friends has been able to provide over £125,000 of funding to support a variety of bids from wards and departments in the hospital for much needed resources.

Most recently the rheumatology department received over £65,000 to purchase the most up-to-date ultrasound diagnostic scanner.

The equipment enables the staff in the department to diagnose possible cases of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), which is the most common form of vasculitis in the UK and a preventable cause of sudden visual loss in the over 50-year-old age group.

IRH was the first hospital to develop the Fast Track GCA ultrasound scanning process thanks to equipment funded by the League of Friends over ten years ago.

The new updated equipment recently funded by ILHF will allow the department to continue to lead the way in this service.

Also in the past year, over £40,000 of funding was provided to create and resource a new Resuscitation Training Unit within the hospital.

Numerous other resources which benefit patient care have also been funded in the past year by the League of Friends, including a semi-automatic defibrillator, specialised equipment for the ophthalmic department, electrocardiograph (ECG) machines and even patient televisions and chairs for use by visitors.