Hospital visit

10:43am Saturday 19th July 2008

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YORK MP Hugh Bayley dropped into the children’s ward at York Hospital to take a peek at how The Press’s Guardian Angels’ unit was taking shape.

He was greeted by excited doctors and nurses, who are counting down the days before the new high-dependency unit is fully up-and-running.

Building work is finished and the unit is now being fitted with state-of-the art equipment.

We now have just £25,000 to go until we reach the £300,000 needed to complete the project and during his visit to the children’s ward, Mr Bayley urged everybody in York to help with one final push.

The MP also thanked The Press for its dedicated coverage of the appeal.

He said: “It is a magnificent achievement to have raised more than a quarter of a million pounds, but the appeal still needs a further £25,000 to cover all the costs.

“People in York have been incredibly generous over the past three years, but one final push is needed to make sure the full amount is raised.”

The unit will help the city’s sickest children, who could be suffering from illnesses including meningitis, septicemia, breathing difficulties, viral chest infections, obstructions of the voice box, severe asthma, bronchiolitis, convulsions or coma and physical injury.

A specialist nurse will care solely for these high-dependency children and other staff are being trained to get the most out of the improvements.

Mr Bayley said: “All the staff are really excited. The appeal has been going for nearly three years and it is great to get to a position where they are just about to open.

“The doctors and nurses said they were very grateful for the public’s generosity and very impressed with the persistence of The Press in maintaining its support for the appeal through three long years.

“They were particularly glad that The Press was prepared to raise money for training the staff to an even higher standard to make sure that the new unit provided the best and most modern high dependency care in the country.

“It is terrific news for the city that we will soon have a new facility to improve care for very sick babies and children.”

If you would like to help us raise the final £25,000 and plan to hold a fundraising event, let us know about it and we can publicise it in The Press to make sure as many people as possible support your efforts.

Phone Nicola Fifield on 01904 653051 or email nicola.fifield@thepress.co.uk.

If you want to make a donation, send cheques or postal orders made out to The Press Guardian Angels appeal, to Guardian Angels, The Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.