How a £1,000 cheque is getting Rosewarne stroke patients home sooner

A set of parallel bars might not sound like much. But at the Rosewarne Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, staff say they are the difference between a patient needing help just to stand and walking out of the door on their own.

A cheque with a personal connection

On Wednesday 15 July 2026, members of the Guild of Friends of Camborne Redruth Community Hospital and ward staff were presented with a cheque for £1,000 from local firm Classic Builders. The money went towards specialist equipment in the unit’s therapy gym, including the parallel bars now used in stroke recovery.

Russell Miller, Senior Quantity Surveyor at Classic Builders, watched the unit being built from his office window. He said donating to a small charity like the Guild was a no-brainer and a cause close to his heart.

“To see the new parallel bars, the whole unit, and how that small £1,000 cheque has made a massive difference is unbelievable,” Russell said. “It is very gratifying to contribute towards helping people with strokes. My mum had a stroke, so there is a personal connection there as well.”

📷Rosewarne Cheque Presentation Parallel Bars

“A huge difference in their recovery”

Ward Manager Rosmi Jose said the bars are already changing what patients can do.

“Every day we are seeing the patients’ progress with these bars as part of a supportive environment for stroke rehabilitation,” Rosmi said. “Patients are really involved with the physio team to practise standing, balance, and walking. I think we are seeing a huge difference in their recovery after these bars were installed.”

Senior Staff Nurse Denise Gamble described the progress since installation as remarkable.

“From people not being able to weight-bear and needing assistance to fully weight-bearing, walking with a tripod stick, a normal stick, or even independently. Patients have progressed a lot more quickly with them being able to use the parallel bars,” Denise said. “Having the parallel bars is crucial to this part of their rehabilitation. It is going to allow us to get them home a bit quicker than they would have done without the bars.”

📷Rosewarne Cheque Presentation Guild and Builders

£23,000 of equipment and counting

The therapy gym is one part of a unit that also has areas for visiting, family meetings, speech and language therapy reviews, and meals away from patients’ bedsides. Thanks to donations like the one from Classic Builders, the Guild has now bought £23,000 worth of rehabilitation equipment for Rosewarne.

Guild of Friends Chairman Rowan Mulliss said every contribution matters.

“It is amazing. It is difficult to appreciate just how much everyone is committed to making a unit like Rosewarne work,” Rowan said. “Our main aim now is to open up the awareness of what the charity and other people do for this hospital. As well as how important this hospital is to the local people.”

Rowan added that as well as being a partner, Classic Builders are helping to link the Guild with other local businesses. “Every penny counts. Every pot we have out. Every penny put in. It helps a lot.”

📷Rosewarne Therapy Gym

The Trust’s first new ward in over 20 years

Rosewarne was the Trust’s first new hospital ward for over 20 years. It was formally opened in December 2025 and has cared for more than 200 patients in its first year.

Matron Sue Greenwood said she was proud of the staff and partners behind the unit.

“As matron, I am truly proud to work with all the staff and partners who enable great care and facilities to be delivered for our local community,” Sue said. “I would like to thank our Guild of Friends for their support over many years. Their tireless fundraising enables us to ensure we can provide excellent care with the most up to date equipment, especially to those in our stroke rehabilitation unit. A huge thank you to Classic Builders who donated to support our newly created gym with state-of-the-art equipment. All money raised is going towards the recovery of local people.”

You can find out more about the charity and how to get involved on the Guild of Friends of Camborne Redruth Community Hospital Facebook page.

📷Rosewarne Cheque Presentation Group