Mintlyn Crematorium has donated £14,000 to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn

Staff at a crematorium have raised money to give to a hospital ward.

Mintlyn Crematorium, which is owned and managed by West Norfolk Council, has raised £14,000 to donate to the stroke ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn.

Last week, Cllr Margaret Wilkinson, mayor of West Norfolk, Cllr Bal Anota, cabinet member for property and corporate services, and Chris Black, the manager of Mintlyn Crematorium, presented a cheque to Karon Strong, head of nursing at the QEH.

The stroke unit, also known as West Raynham, provides specialist care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The team ensures that all patients who experience a stroke have access to care and treatment pathways, from acute treatments to life after stroke rehabilitation, both as inpatients and in the community.

The money has been raised through a charitable scheme, operated by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), of which Mintlyn is a member.

Under the scheme, metal from medical implants is recycled after cremation, with the consent of the family of the deceased.

Twice a year the institute asks its scheme members to nominate local charities, which help to support people to cope with the death of loved ones, to receive a donation.

Cllr Anota said: “Staff on the stroke ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital do incredible work to help patients who have had a stroke to get the support and rehabilitation they need.

“The team on this ward really do change people’s lives for the better and I’m pleased that this donation can help them with their vital work.

“Mintlyn Crematorium has now donated more than £160,000 to support charities through this charitable scheme and I hope people who are bereaved take comfort from that.”

Karon Strong, head of nursing at the QEH, said: “This £14,000 donation is hugely welcome and will help our clinical teams to enhance patient care for stroke patients on West Raynham ward as well as the support we provide to families and carers.

“Generous donations like these make all the difference, so we are very grateful.”

To qualify for donations from the scheme, charities are selected on the basis that they have to assist the bereaved or those who are terminally ill.