Patients who have lost their hair to benefit from improved salon

Patients who have lost their hair due to medical reasons can now benefit from an improved salon at Scunthorpe hospital.

The Headway Salon – which provides wigs and scarves for patients who have lost or are losing their hair – is a lifeline for people at what can be a very emotional time.

Karen Fanthorpe, general manager for community and therapy services, said: “It has been great to see this come to fruition. It is really important that we have a pleasant space for patients at that point in their treatment when they need a wig.

“The services that the Headway Salon provides will transform the lives of patients at what is a very anxious time for them.”

The salon was previously located in a consulting room before a ‘wish’ was put in through the Health Tree Foundation – the hospital’s official charity – to create this new dedicated space.

This new room, which cost nearly £3,000, has been completely redesigned with a salon-inspired layout including new mirrors and furniture.

Money was raised through proceeds from a quiz sponsored by the Winterton & District Lions Group and the Health Tree Foundation also donated funds.

Julie Dobbs, head of volunteering, said: “It is fabulous that we now have this new room for patients to come and use.”

The volunteers who run the salon are the latest winners of the Trust’s Volunteer of the Year award: they were praised for the invaluable service they provide with compassion, respect and dignity.

Senior administrator Nina Scott, who was heavily involved in the project, said: “We have been receiving a lot of comments from patients about how nice, bright and fresh the room is. Patients love the Headway room and say how it looks like a salon!”