Local company employees provide improved facilities for patients families.

A sales support team of more than 24 volunteers from Bournville-based Mondelēz International has added a much needed splash of colour to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s relatives’ wing, Nuffield House.

Aiming to create a brighter atmosphere for family members staying in the hospital’s accommodation, team members cleaned and repainted six of the 15 bedrooms, as well as the communal lounge area.

Elizabeth Watson, Central Support Sales Executive at Mondelēz International, said: “I stayed in the relatives’ wing when my dad was being treated for pancreatic cancer so giving back to the hospital has meant a lot to me. We made a noticeable difference in just a few days but there’s still a lot more that needs to be done”.

“We’re going to look into what we can do to raise more funds for the facility and continue to support the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity.”

The rooms are used by friends and family of patients staying in the hospital, often over long periods of time. Sian Averill, Fundraising Assistant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “The hospital sees over 800,000 patients a year from all over the UK. Some patients travel miles for treatment and so having somewhere their families can use as a safe, comfortable base is extremely important. We are very grateful to all at Mondelez International who kindly gave up their time to transform the wing and make such a difference to patients’ relatives. The team did a fantastic job!”

The activity at Nuffield House was carried out as part of Mondelēz International’s Global Service Month. Employees play a vital role in their communities all year long, and this month of service simply carries on a rich tradition of volunteerism from the organisation.