£800,000 appeal for county hospital (From Gazette Series)

£800,000 appeal for county hospital

AN URGENT appeal to raise £800,000 in six months to equip the county's new Children's Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital has been launched by Fiona Fullerton, vice-patron of the Pied Piper Appeal.

The appeal features the striking image of a masked surgeon asking: "What would you give to help your kid?"

Dr Lyda Jadresic, clinical director for paediatrics at Gloucestershire Royal said: "Children in need of acute care, and their parents, naturally associate hospital with pain and distress.

"We need this additional money for specialist medical equipment, and to provide facilities that will improve care and reduce stress for children and carers alike.

"Interactive and stimulating art, toys and live performers act as a distraction that not only helps to put patients and their relatives more at ease from the moment they arrive, but is proven to speed up recovery rates so that children can return home sooner.

"These extra facilities will make the difference between the good services which the NHS can afford and the excellent'services that we all want for our children in the county."

An example of the extra facilities is the brightly coloured "Zoopal", which looks like a hippo, lion or elephant, while having all the features of a conventional examination couch. Each of these couches costs £3,500 and five are needed.

Actress and writer Fiona Fullerton added: "The Children's Centre is a state-of-the-art new facility, made bigger thanks to the Pied Piper's original pledge. Now we need another £800,000 to make it even better.

"It is designed to treat more than 20,000 children a year. For many of them it will mean being treated locally, rather than travelling to Birmingham or Bristol."

To make a donation people can ring the Pied Piper Appeal on 08454 226 119, or 01452 394 119, or send a cheque to the Pied Piper Appeal at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN.