Firm donates window blinds to health unit

11:35am Monday 4th August 2008

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A FATHER-OF-THREE who has been through the trauma of his children being transferred to hospitals outside of York has given a boost to The Press’s Guardian Angels Appeal.

Andrew Clark, who also has one grandchild, has donated £400 worth of specialised blinds to the new high-dependency unit for children at York Hospital.

The blinds, which were specially designed to enhance infection control, have no cords or strings to harbour bacteria and are made of plastic so they can be easily washed down.

Andrew, who runs the Selby-based business Sunset Blinds with his son Matthew, said: “I’ve been following the progress of the appeal in The Press and decided that I wanted to help too.

“I don’t like sky-diving or jumping off cliffs or anything like that, but this was something I could do.

“When I saw the plans of the unit in The Press, I saw there were some windows, so I got in touch with the hospital to ask if they would like some blinds.”

He added: “My middle son is now 34, but when he was 14 he was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, because he couldn’t breathe and York Hospital didn’t have the equipment to help him.

“He had glandular fever and his glands were so swollen he couldn’t actually breathe.

“I’ve also got a daughter and when she was six her appendix burst and she was really seriously ill.

“Again, she couldn’t stay in York and had to go to Leeds Hospital.

“Parents just don’t know when their children might be seriously ill and it’s so important that York has a fully equipped high-dependency unit for them.”

The new state-of-the-art unit at York Hospital will mean many more youngsters can be treated in York rather than having to be transferred further afield to cities such as Leeds.

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

If you want to make a donation to help our appeal reach its £300,000 target, send cheques or postal orders made out to The Press Guardian Angels Appeal, to Guardian Angels, The Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.