"Styles and Smiles in Ward 9 University Hospital Wishaw"

I had the pleasure of visiting the patient’s hairdressers (Styles and Smiles) in ward 9 of University Hospital Wishaw. Jackie, the tutor from New College Lanarkshire and her students were busy doing the hair of 2 elderly ladies who are patients within the hospital. The care and attention the students showed to both ladies made me quite emotional. To see patients having the opportunity to feel better while in hospital and to see the hairdressing staff being so gentle and kind while doing their hair was something special. I talked to one of the patients and she could not believe that she was in an ‘actual’  hairdressers but in hospital at the same time. While very lovely, she became far more animated and engaged throughout her hair appointment enjoying ‘feeling like her old self’ 

This free service in Unversity Hospital Wishaw is a lifeline to elderly patients giving them the dignity they deserve while providing the students with hands on experience. Typical of  the ‘togetherness’ spirit of North Lanarkshire