Five specialist wheelchairs have been delivered to our stroke ward at King George Hospital, and they’ve already won the approval of patient Nora Flynn.

The 92-year-old from Ilford was one of the first patients to benefit from the new wheelchairs, which provide more support for stroke patients and can also be tilted to make them more comfortable for people with reduced posture.

Nora, a mother-of-four who also has three grandchildren, said: “It’s lovely and comfortable.”

The five wheelchairs cost just under £10,000 and were funded by the League of Friends charity, which runs a shop at the hospital and all funds raised are spent on making improvements for patients.

To say thank you staff on Beech ward, which rehabilitates stroke patients, held a coffee and cake morning yesterday (25 August), inviting along League of Friends Chairman Don Wyman, his wife Louise, who is also the secretary, treasurer Cecil Leighton and his wife Marie, a volunteer for the charity.

As well as patients and staff, families were invited to come and enjoy some sweet treats at the special event.

Sarah Fry, senior physiotherapist on Beech ward, said: “We’re really grateful for the wheelchairs and they will make a huge difference to our patients.

“As well as providing more support and comfort, they’ll enable more patients to get up out of bed and attend our group activities. We hold breakfast clubs and an upper limb group where they do arm exercises, so it will allow patients to socialise more.

“It will also be nicer for their families as they can take them off the ward for a bit, and even to get some fresh air outside. They’re a real bonus to have.”