22 April 2016
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Today was a good hair day for the Mercy University Hospital as leading Cork salon, Wayne Lloyd Hair, announced details of a partnership that will see stylists visit the hospital on a regular basis to treat patients to a “new do”.
The charity partnership will see the team from the Washington Street salon, including ‘Irish Hairdresser of the Year’ Aaron Healy, give washes and blow dries, do dry styling and give gents cuts to patients in various wards around the hospital including the Care of the Elderly Ward (St. Mary’s). The Day Room in St. Mary’s was recently transformed into a cosy sitting room for patients, making them feel a little more at home, thanks to money raised through the Mercy Hospital Foundation Annual Raffle last year, and this is a lovely space for the stylists to spend time with these patients while giving them a treat, especially around special occasions like birthdays.
Some patients, such as those who have suffered strokes, may not be comfortable having their hair done, and for these, Wayne Lloyd Hair will offer relaxing hand massages and company. It’s not only adult patients who will benefit from the partnership, as stylists will also visit the children’s ward from time to time to show little girls how to do plaits and pony tails for example.
Often when patients arrive in hospital they don’t have toiletries like shampoo and conditioner with them, and Wayne Lloyd Hair plans to put together and donate “Hair Hampers” that the hospital staff will have for patients who need them.
Speaking about the partnership, Aaron Healy from Wayne Lloyd Hair who was crowned ‘Irish Hairdresser of the Year’ following the coveted Irish Hairdressing Championships 2016 in March said “Sometimes people get so consumed in their day to day work that they forget that they can make a big difference to the lives of others in simple ways. The team in Wayne Lloyd Hair and I are delighted to partner our neighbours at The Mercy for this initiative that will see us gain as much as the patients I’m sure.”
Josephine Griffin, Patient Liaison and Access Officer at the Mercy University Hospital said “We’re so thrilled that Wayne Lloyd Hair has chosen The Mercy as its charity partner and we’re looking forward to welcoming the team to our wards over the coming months. They are giving their time so generously and it will mean the world to the patients who get to benefit from their visits – I’m sure they will be in high demand, and their visits will be very well received.”
Leading stylist Wayne Lloyd, with salons in Cork City, Bandon and Ballydehob, has a team of over 35 staff who have won a number of prestigious awards in recent years including ‘Munster Hairdresser of the Year’ in 2015; ‘Irish Trainee Stylist of the Year’ five times; ‘Ireland’s Best Stylist’ in 2013; ‘Global Stylist of the Year’ 2009 and 2010; and ‘World’s Best Stylist’ in 2007.
