Wigan support group gifts medication equipment to other patients

One reason there has been a need for the gifts is because sometimes patients are lent them but then fail to return them later.

Other news: Councillor is found guilty of abusing staffSince the group started, back in 2009, attendees have donated money for the tea, coffee and cake provisions and over the years.

This money has accumulated enough to cover the purchase.

Nebulisers are crucial to patients who have lung conditions and allow medication to be inhaled in the form of a mist treating symptoms like wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness.

Conditions where such equipment is particularly useful include lung cancer, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.

Each of the nebulisers features a miniature commemorative plaque which reads “Donated by Wigan Lung Cancer Support – Return When Not Needed”.

Health chiefs say the devices will make a big impact on the patients receiving treatment at Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.

Lung cancer specialist nurse Joy Pearson said: “Currently our stock levels are seriously depleted as patients borrow the nebulisers and they’re not always returned.

“This donation will be the gift that keeps on giving.”

Joy added: “The group had a meeting to decide what we did with the money and they decided that they wanted to give back to the patients.”

Beverley Ratcliffe, who has been attending the group for a number of years, said: “I want to give a massive thanks to Park Cakes at Bolton for their help with the cakes.”

But she remained humble about the donation saying: “I’m happy to help as long as it helps people, just like the trust helped me.”