Care and karaoke is the perfect prescription

A hospital may be the last place you would expect to find bingo or karaoke – but both take place regularly at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Patients having dialysis at the hospital’s Alan Squirrell renal unit are kept entertained thanks to the efforts of healthcare assistant Bawgie Ilar.

He introduced the sessions as a way of staving off boredom for people who can spend up to four hours hooked up to machines to filter out waste and excess fluid from their blood.

Bawgie, 51, who joined the unit in 2017, said: “I absolutely love karaoke, and I noticed that some of the patients looked a bit bored, and were perhaps needing something to help pass the time.

“I spoke to my boss and she was really supportive and got us the equipment, and now we have great fun singing along together.

“My favourite songs are things like Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, but the patients have really varied tastes; anything from Queen to more modern hits.”

Bawgie also introduced fun bingo sessions, and even learnt some magic tricks to help keep his patients amused.

He said: “One of the patients had some cards so I thought it would be fun to try some magic with them. We really try and make the unit a friendly and welcoming place so this is just my way of making a difference.”

Patients usually attend the unit three times a week, and often for years at a time, and many look forward to the days when Bawgie is on duty.

Julia Sanders, 58, from Ramsgate, has had two kidney transplants but complications mean she is back having dialysis again.

She said: “There is nowhere quite like this particular unit and the staff here.

“It sounds strange but I absolutely love it here. Of course, no one wants to be unwell and we all have days when we feel fed up but then you come in here and people like Bawgie look after you.

“They make you feel like you are not a number or a patient, you are a friend. They know you don’t want to have to spend so much time in hospital but they make it the best they possibly can and it is very special.”

Doreen Lindsay, 73, from Westgate, agrees. She needs dialysis after her kidney, donated by her husband, failed after she had to stop taking the anti-rejection medication because of serious side-effects.

She said: “You can tell how much Bawgie loves his karaoke! It’s great fun and he is a really lovely man.”

Annette Randall, 59, from Margate, initially had her dialysis treatment at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital before transferring to the QEQM four years ago.

She said: “Bawgie is absolutely brilliant. He can make you forget everything.

“We have to sit here for four hours, and it can be quite monotonous, and no one really wants to be here, but Bawgie makes everyone perk up.

“The nurses and the whole team do a wonderful job in looking after us and Bawgie brings the banter and tries to make the whole experience easier.

“It does feel like the people here are a second family because we spend so much time here, and I love that we are all able to laugh together.”