An appeal has been launched to create a bespoke 'wedding box' for end-of-life care patients who want to tie the knot at Grantham Hospital.

The Swan Box will be available to patients on the oncology ward at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) hospital and contain all the necessary items to support a wedding at short notice.

Donations of confetti, battery-operated fairy lights, balloons, wedding cards, disposable cameras and photo frames are some of the items being sought to help decorate ward areas in wedding fashion.

The boxes form part of ULHT's swan scheme, which helps to ensure consistent end of life care is provided to all hospital patients, including specialist training for staff, new volunteering roles to support end of life care and other resources such as memory bags to help families going through difficult times.

Macmillan Lead Nurse for Cancer, Palliative and End of Life Care at ULHT, Sarah Ward, said the addition of the wedding boxes would be a fantastic complement to the impact of the already successful swan scheme.

"It's about all of the little things that really make a difference to our patients and their relatives during this difficult time," she said.

Wedding boxes are also being launched at Lincoln County and Boston Pilgrim hospitals.

If you would like to donate to the Swan Box contact Wendy Spridgens at Grantham Hospital on 01476 464345.

Photo: Grantham Hospital swan scheme ambassador Wendy Spridgens