Our Wheely Big Appeal target has been smashed – and what a push it’s been!
It has taken only five and a half months for donations by businesses, organisations, clubs and individuals to surpass the £24,000 which The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust appealed for in order to buy 30 new indoor blue wheelchairs.
Due to increasing demand, we needed lots more wheelchairs for patients to be transported around the hospital. Plus some of our older stock was starting to look tired.
The appeal, supported by King’s Lynn radio station KLFM, was launched on 6th November 2017 and has a closing total of a fantastic £25,777.
Trust chief executive Jon Green said: “We are truly grateful to our community for getting behind the appeal.
“Providing these wheelchairs will enhance our patients’ care and experience. The local population’s generosity has been fantastic and it means that our patients have an improved journey throughout the hospital.”
Each new wheelchair, which features a pole for an IV bag, calf/leg supports and an ultra-sturdy footrest, costs £800. Not everybody who donated wanted it to be publicly acknowledged but a lot of the wheelchairs do bear sponsorship panels on the back.
Laurence Morlaàs, the Trust’s fundraising executive, said: “I wish to say a massive thank you and express my gratitude to the people of West Norfolk who are incredibly generous. Also, thanks are due to KL.FM for joining forces with us.
“It has been a huge surprise to raise £24,000 – and more – so quickly. My heartfelt thanks go to all the donors, fundraisers, businesses and organisations who have supported our Wheely Big Appeal – an incredible result!
“The wheelchairs benefit a great variety of patients – from A & E department, maternity unit, orthopaedic ward, the list is endless – and it is gratifying to hear the positive feedback from our patients and their carers who find them easy to use.”
The idea for fundraising for additional wheelchairs came from comments made via the Friends and Family Test, our Patient Advice and Liaison Service and the volunteers at the front desk.
Emma Harrison, the Trust’s patient experience and public involvement lead, added: “Providing feedback to the hospital about your experience allows us to develop our services and improve how care is provided in a way that our patients, their relatives and carers want. Please continue to give your feedback as this can assist both our future patients as well as our staff.”
—ENDS—
Photo caption: With five of the new fleet of indoor wheelchairs are (from left) Trust fundraising executive Laurence Morlaàs, chief executive Jon Green, KLFM news editor Chris Craddock and Trust patient experience and public involvement lead Emma Harrison.
To download the press release and image click here
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