Money raised to make Telford hospital more homely

The £3,750 which raised during the last 12 months at the department store in Telford Shopping Centre will be spent on toys and furniture as an added comfort to patients.

Sue Holland and Sue Mackellar, who are both customer assistants in the business involvement group for the store, presented a cheque to staff at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, where the centre is being built.

The store chose the Caring for our Future Appeal, which is benefitting patients and staff who will use the centre, as its charity of the year for 2013.

Staff at the store raised £2,000 through a charity walk in Ironbridge, in-store raffles and a number of sales which included homemade cakes and books. This was match funded to the tune of £1,750 from Marks & Spencer Head Office.

Nuala O'Kane, fundraising co-ordinator for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, received the money on the new children's ward in the centre at PRH.

She said the money would be used to buy some added extras which will make it extra special for the women and children who will benefit from the centre.

"This is a wonderful gesture on behalf of Marks & Spencer in Telford and will help us to create an even more homely and welcoming environment for our patients," she said.

"While the NHS is providing the funds for the building and equipment that will be needed to provide care for patients using the centre, it is always great to provide some added extras which will benefit our patients.

"Donations such as this are used to provide some additional items such as more toys or extra furniture for areas such as our play and teenage rooms. Thank you to staff at the store and everyone else who has supported the appeal for their generosity."

Sue Holland said: "We choose a charity every year from suggestions from staff, and the caring for our future appeal was chosen for 2013. We are delighted to have raised an excellent amount which will support women and children in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales. It is important to support your local health services and we are glad to have been able to make this donation to staff at the Princess Royal Hospital."

At present the Children's Ward at PRH is the only service to have moved into the Shropshire Women and Children's Centre.

The rest of the Shropshire Women and Children's Centre is due to open in September. It will be for women who need a consultant-led birth and gynaecology services which require an overnight stay.

Children who need to stay overnight and children's oncology and haematology care will also be treated at the centre.