Izzy is top dog for providing patients with plenty of love
A LOVABLE therapy dog who visits elderly patients in hospital to cheer them up has won an award for all she does to brighten their day.
Izzy, a seven-year-old Lhasa apso, makes weekly visits to patients at Queen’s Hospital in Burton with her owner, Margaret Leason, to lift morale by reducing anxiety and boredom.
The pooch is said to light up the faces of elderly patients receiving care and loves the attention she gets from those staying on the ward.
Now she has been rewarded by Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust for continuously bringing joy to patients she visits.
The Pride Awards honour staff and volunteers working in hospitals across the region, with Izzy and owner Margaret Leason winning the Award for Volunteer Contribution for all their efforts.
Mrs Leason said: “The majority of people that we see are elderly patients who have had dogs before, so it is fantastic to see how many people lighten up when Izzy comes to visit on the wards.
“As a volunteer, it is really rewarding to be able to make patients feel a bit better and to sit down and have a chat with them about their lives.
“Izzy always seems to know what the patients want individually and just loves the attention. When we arrive each week, she literally drags me into the hospital with her tail wagging like crazy! It was unexpected but it is great to have won this award, although it is all about Izzy!”
In total, 15 honours were handed out at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton Pride Awards at a ceremony held at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.