Patients in Royal Stoke will continue to receive visits from therapy dog Keith thanks to a new ramp funded by UHNM Charity.

Patients in Royal Stoke will continue to receive visits from therapy dog Keith thanks to a new ramp funded by UHNM Charity.

Keith, who visits with his volunteer owner Emma, has been bringing joy to patients, visitors and staff in the Critical Care Unit for almost three years but at 12 years old was starting to struggle to jump up and down from chairs.

Emma said: “We approached UHNM Charity to see if they would buy a ramp so Keith could continue his weekly Thursday afternoon visits. He loves his visits and I was worried we would have to stop coming because the jumping up and down from the chairs was affecting his back legs.”

Helen Garrett, rehabilitation therapist in Critical Care, said: “Critical care is quite a sterile and intense environment, but having Keith here helps to humanise it. Patients, particularly those with delirium or struggling to wake up, really benefit from their interaction with him and his visits give everyone a boost so we are thrilled with the ramp which will ensure he can continue to come.”