Patients on a lifesaving cancer unit at a Birmingham hospital are set to benefit thanks to a quiz night held by a city-based property company which raised £7,000 for the cause.
Hortons’ Estate Limited have made Ward 19 at Heartlands Hospital, part of Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, their chosen charity for 2016 and as part of their fundraising drive held a quiz night at Penny Blacks in the Mailbox.
In total 28 teams from businesses and organisations across the region took part in the European-themed quiz, including a team made up of staff from Ward 19, and raised a fantastic amount for the unit which treats patients with haematological cancers, including serious illnesses like Leukaemia.
Chief executive of Hortons Tony Green said: “We are delighted that the European quiz from Hortons’ Estates Limited was enjoyed by all that participated and that it raised so much money for Ward 19.
“Hortons’ staff selected the charity because of personal experience of the work that they do and this made us all the more determined to raise as much as we could.”
Dr Manos Nikolousis, clinical director on Ward 19, added: “We are delighted that Hortons’ have chosen to support Ward 19 this year and our team, including myself, had a great time at the quiz and were bowled over by the amount raised.
“The money will go a huge way to making our patients’ lives more pleasant during a very difficult time and support our on-going drive to fund new equipment and our community chemotherapy project to further enhance patient care on the unit.”
If you would like to support the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Charity’s Ward 19 Cancer Fund visit www.heartofenglandcharity.org.uk/project/heartlands-ward-19-appeal or phone 0121 424 3330.
The Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital received an £800 donation this month, thanks to the generosity of Elaine Forrest who passed away earlier this year.
Elaine asked for donations instead of flowers at her funeral and her husband David and sons, Darren and Daniel, delivered the cheque to the unit. The donation will allow the unit to buy a new ventilator.
This was a cause close to Elaine’s heart as son Darren was cared for in the unit when he was born six weeks prematurely and her other son Daniels’ own son was also born early and cared for there.
David Forrest said: “She knew how passionate and dedicated the staff on the Neonatal unit are, every day they go the extra mile and do wonderful work. She didn’t want any flowers but she asked for donations because she wanted the money to go to something close to her heart, to a good cause. She would be happy now knowing that it will make a difference.”
The Trust welcomes 19 public governors and five staff governors who have been elected or re-elected to the Trust’s Council of Governors following the elections this summer.
The public governors represent the interests of local people in their constituencies and the staff governors, those of their colleagues.
The Trust’s public and staff governors are: Public and Staff Governors
Popular television star, Emma Willis, took time to make a trip to Good Hope Hospital to present the midwifery team with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Award.
The team were reaccredited for their excellent support with breastfeeding for local mums. Meeting the standards of an assessment and being reaccredited shows that the team continues to provide parents with the best possible care to build close and loving relationships with their baby and to feed them in ways which will support optimum health and development.
As a mum of three – Isabelle, Ace and Trixie – Emma has a personal fondness for Good Hope, having grown up in Sutton Coldfield and herself received valuable advice and support from the hospital’s midwives. She spent time chatting with staff, new mums and families and meeting newborns.
Emma said: “Good Hope Hospital has been in my life forever – I was born here, my sister gave birth here, my parents worked here and I’ve received advice about feeding my daughter from infant feeding co-ordinator Jackie Scott. I’m over the moon that the team have got this award again.”
Jackie said: “It’s such a pleasure for us to receive this prestigious award. We are all passionate about supporting mums with their feeding choices. I would like to thank Emma for presenting the award to the team, she is a role model for young mums and her support for the hospital is greatly appreciated.”
Maggie Coleman, matron for Maternity Clinical Services added: “I’m very proud of the teamwork throughout the Maternity Unit that ensured we gained reaccreditation and continue to make sure that women have an informed choice when deciding how to feed their baby.”
With around 80,000 people in England having a heart attack every year, locals interested in learning more about the disease and how care has changed for heart attack patients are invited to attend a free health seminar at Heartlands Hospital.
Taking place on 19 July from 5pm, Dr Jerome Ment, consultant cardiologist, will take to the floor to discuss available treatments and also offer advice on how to recover from a heart attack.
Dr Ment said: “A heart attack is a medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. Lack of blood to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle. Treatment for a heart attack will depend on how serious it is.
“Modern day treatment of a heart attack is now unrecognisable from what it was a generation ago and the chances of survival are now higher than ever. This seminar will give an historical perspective and highlight modern techniques in current treatment for heart attack patients.”
If you would like to attend the seminar, please contact Sandra White, membership and community engagement manager, on 0121 424 1218 or email: membership@heartofengland.nhs.uk.
The Trust – which covers Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital as well as some community based services – runs monthly health seminars to help raise awareness of a range of health conditions, as well as providing information about the treatment and support that is available.
