A LIFELINE diabetes unit at Inverclyde Royal has received essential new equipment thanks to kind bank staff.

Nurses and doctors from the diabetes team say a donation from employees at the RBS Mortgage Centre will prove vital.

The generous RBS workers raised almost £700 for the unit, which has been used to buy a fridge where insulin and hypo treatments can be stored and easily accessed.

The money has also enabled the team to purchase a colour printer and a laminator which allows nurses to provide patients with easy-to-follow colour coded treatment advice to help them manage their conditions.

Other items which will make a big difference to the unit include a kettle and cups so staff can make patients, especially the elderly, a cup of tea.

Dorothy McMenemie, a specialist diabetes nurse, said: "This donation means we now have a fridge which we can use for insulin instead of having to go to the ward to get some.

"The other thing is that we have a baby clinic, so we can now heat their bottles.

"It is also important that we now have access to hypo treatment as we can store them in the fridge."

Staff from the complaints department at the RBS Mortgage Centre have been determined to help people with diabetes.

They completed the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in aid of Diabetes UK and raised £1,435.

The staff then raised £682 for the diabetes unit at IRH through weekly £1 donations.

Selina McDougall, a complaints manager at the Mortgage Centre, says the centre picks different charities to support each year.

She suggested that their two small complaints teams help out the diabetes unit where her husband Barry currently attends.

Selina said: "My husband has diabetes so we know what Dorothy and the girls are up against.

"They are amazing as they offer on hand support - people can just drop in."

Selina and her colleagues Sharon Fulton, who is also a complaints handler, and Kelly McGloin, a team manager, were delighted to visit the diabetes unit this week where they met Dorothy and the team including specialist nurses Gaynor Frankgate and Karen McDonald and consultant diabetologist and endocrinologist Dr Mohammed Azharuddin.

Selina said: "I think this place is close to a lot of people's hearts."