‘Emotional’ Hospital staff so grateful for £200,000 gift to scanner appeal
HOSPITAL staff say they are “immensely grateful” to receive a one-off donation of £200,000 for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity CT Scanner Appeal.
The special gift will help thousands of people, including cancer patients and seriously ill children.
The money has come from a local supporter who chose to remember the work of NHS staff by making a gift in his will to the charity.
The gift has provided a major boost to the charity’s appeal, which is aiming to raise £600,000 to fund state-of-theart imaging technology.
The CT gamma scanner combines an external CT scan and a gamma image from inside the body to diagnose conditions that otherwise cannot be found.
Dr Janelle Reyes-goddard, head of nuclear medicine at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are immensely grateful that someone chose to be so kind, and their gift feels all the more special arriving at this time of year.
“We were really emotional to think someone wanted to remember the hospitals in this way.
“We now feel like we’re a big step closer to having this technology funded for Gloucestershire, and it means so much to us to offer the best possible imaging to the local community.”
With three CT scanners already in place, thanks to previous appeal donations, the charity has set its sights on funding the CT gamma technology that will help thousands of patients every year, benefiting all age groups – from babies to people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s.
Richard Smith, head of fundraising at Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity, said: “It is truly humbling to receive a gift like this, and that someone wanted to change the lives of others in the future in this way.
“Their kindness will be a lasting legacy for local patients and NHS staff, and our thoughts are with their loved ones this Christmas.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who chooses to give a gift to the hospitals when writing their will, no matter how large or small.
“Their support makes a direct difference by funding extra equipment and care over and above the NHS – everything from cancer technology to heart equipment has been funded recently.
“We’d like to give our thanks from the hospitals this Christmas to everyone who so kindly supports us not only through a gift in their will but with any donation. We deeply appreciate your generosity.”
There are many different ways to support the appeal alongside leaving a gift in a will. People can raise funds on Justgiving by having a sponsored challenge, organising a fundraising event at their local school or community group, or by making the appeal their company’s charity of the year.
This Christmas, people can also support the charity by donating to the festive Snowflake campaign. They can leave a personal message online to remember a loved one, say thank you for the care received or even share a wish for the future. Every message will then be handwritten on a decoration to be displayed for staff and patients during the festive season at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
To make a donation, visit gloshospitals.nhs.uk/charity or call 0300 422 3231.