A £100,000 appeal has been launched for Bridgnorth Hospital which could make a major difference to patients and their families. The cash will be used to upgrade operating theatre facilities at the community hospital, meaning fewer patients will have to travel to other hospitals for their treatment.
“We are trying to help the PCT provide a service for local people in their local hospital,” said John Hurst-Knight, chairman of the hospital’s league of friends which has set the fundraising target.
“We are trying to ensure that there are procedures available in our local hospital so people don’t have to travel to Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton or even Worcester.
“My wife had a heart problem and had to go to Stoke, and I was able to travel by car to visit.
“But there are people, in the likes of Ditton Priors or Highley for example, who in similar circumstances would have to catch a bus in to Bridgnorth, another to Wolverhampton, take the train to Stoke and then another bus to the hospital, in order to visit for an hour,” Mr Hurst-Knight said.
“We are not saying that we can raise this sort of money overnight, but it does gives us a target for all those groups and individuals who wish to make a donation.
Generous
“There are various types of up-to-date equipment needed for the theatre at Bridgnorth, for example for keyhole surgery. The NHS always supplies the basic equipment but the League of Friends is able to put some butter on the bread, so to speak.”
Andrew Thomas, community services manager for Bridgnorth, said: “Shropshire County PCT welcomes the generous support and dedication of the League of Friends, and it will continue to work with them to continually improve the services available to patients.
“The generous donation of £100,000 will help provide modern equipment for the hospital’s theatre, which is due to be remodernised.”