Legacy gift transforms pacemaker room at Torbay Hospital

A pacemaker treatment room at Torbay Hospital has been transformed thanks to a legacy donation to Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity.

The refurbishment, funded through a gift left in the will of Kenneth Zaple, has created a more welcoming space for patients attending appointments in the hospital's Heart and Lung Department.

At the centre of the makeover is Through the Meadow, a new artwork by local printmaker Niamh Geraghty Morris, chosen by staff to help create a calmer atmosphere for patients who may be feeling anxious ahead of checks or procedures.

The installation forms part of a wider programme led by Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity, the Trust's artist in residence Helen Snell, Make Southwest and local artists to introduce artwork into healthcare settings across the region.

Luisa Cleverdon, CRM Lead Physiologist in the Heart and Lung Department, said the changes had already made a noticeable difference.

"Many people attending the pacemaker clinic feel understandably anxious about their appointments," she said.

"The difference this refurbishment and artwork have made has been remarkable. The room feels calmer, more welcoming and much less clinical. We've had really positive feedback from both patients and colleagues."

Becky Chown, Fundraising Manager for Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity, said the project highlighted the impact legacy donations can have.

"We are incredibly grateful to Mr Zaple for his generosity," she said.

"Gifts left in Wills help us fund projects that can make a real difference to patients, families and colleagues, often in ways that NHS funding alone cannot.

"This is a wonderful example of how a legacy gift can have a lasting impact. The new artwork has transformed the feel of the room and will help create a calmer and more welcoming environment for patients for many years to come."

The charity is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of supporting patients, families, communities and NHS staff by funding projects, equipment and improvements beyond what NHS funding alone can provide.

Artist Niamh Geraghty Morris said it had been a privilege to contribute to the project.

"I felt it was a real privilege to be involved and to donate a piece of artwork to one of the spaces in the hospital and to know that people are benefiting from it," she said.

The charity says anyone interested in leaving a gift in their will can find out more by contacting its fundraising team or visiting its website.