Ludlow drag nurses row: Couple from France vow to double cash raised – if health chief apologises
A couple from France have vowed to double the amount of money raised for Ludlow Hospital by men dressed as female nurses – on the condition that a health chief apologises for turning the donation down.
Colin and Mickie Wynne-Davies, were visiting Ludlow from their home in the south of France when they learned that Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust had turned down a donation of £2,500 from a fundraising bed push.
The couple say they were left "outraged" to learn the cash had been turned down by chief executive of the trust Jan Ditheridge because the fundraiser's behaviour was "insulting".
They have now offered to double the amount raised - if Ms Ditheridge apologises.
"We want the person at the trust responsible for this ridiculous decision to admit they got it wrong," Mr Wynne-Davies said.
"The hospital clearly needs the money and if we move back to Ludlow or the surrounding area we may well be using the hospital so wanted to support what was so clearly a good cause."
The couple were visiting the town to look for a house in case they move back from France.
"This is a further example that things have gone too far," Mrs Wynne-Davies said.
"If no offence was intended then none should be taken and these people clearly just wanted to help the hospital."
The group supporting Ludlow Hospital raised money by pushing a bed around the town, but were told their outfits were “demeaning”.
Fundraiser Mark Hiles said they were “just having a bit of fun” and would do the same again.
He said: “Are you going to stop the London Marathon, people dressing up... to raise money because it might offend somebody? No.
“It’s a free world. We should be able to dress how we want to dress.”
Mr Hiles said they had gone as nurses “because it raises more awareness” and they “stand out from the crowd more”.
He also said he did not see any validity in concerns that it sexualised the profession for female nurses, who perhaps faced sexual harassment at work.
Mr Hiles said: “We’ve spoken to many, many nurses... I mean, there’s a lot of nurses out there who’ve actually done this with us in the past and I haven’t come across anybody that has had a problem with it.”
The league of friends has been contacted by a number of health trusts and hospitals outside Shropshire who have asked for the money to be donated to them.
But the fundraisers are adamant the money, which had been earmarked for an ECG machine, would remain in the county.
In the past the bed push has paid for a new dialysis machine and other equipment.
