Poole Hospital Charity has raised more than £25,000 to purchase vitally important and life-changing equipment that will enhance patient treatment at the hospital.
The funding was provided by donations to the charity’s annual ‘Elf Service’ initiative that proved very popular over the Christmas period.
So far, a total of £26,624 has been raised but more than £3,500 is still expected from additional donations.
The equipment includes child resuscitation training dolls, radiotherapy immobilisation breast boards, newborn baby warming cots and a movement therapy rehabilitation bike.
The dolls give parents extra skills to help care for a child with a life-limiting condition and will be provided to the hospital’s children’s ward and children’s palliative and end of life care suite, Gully’s Place.
A radiotherapy immobilisation breast board is a physical support for the upper body, helping cancer patients to receive more effective radiotherapy treatment while newborn baby warming cots keep poorly babies warm without the barriers of an incubator.
Lastly, movement therapy rehabilitation bikes aid recovery for physiotherapy patients to help get them home quicker.
All of the items were part of the charity’s ‘Christmas List’ and have been purchased thanks to donations and funds raised at several festive events organsied by the charity.
At the ‘Elf Dash’ on 9 December, more than 200 people, dressed as elves, jogged around Poole Park completing an assortment of fun activities before meeting Father Christmas in his grotto.
There was also a quiz night on 7 December, ‘Poole Elf Day’ on 14 December, where hospital staff dressed up as elves, and a Christmas carol service on 18 December.
“Our thanks to everyone who’s supported this year’s campaign,” said Sara Fripp, the charity’s fundraising manager.
“The support we’ve received from local community groups and businesses, along with our festive events, has meant we’ve hit our target and enabled us to buy these really important items.”
Christmas may be over but you can still donate to the appeal. All the money you raise is used to purchase innovative equipment and to improve facilities which complement the hospital’s existing high quality care, yet are above what the NHS provides.
If you would like to donate contact Poole Hospital Charity at fundraising@poole.nhs.uk or call 01202 448449. For more information visit http://www.poolehospitalcharity.co.uk