MEDEQUIP4KIDS LAUNCHES APPEAL TO EQUIP HOSPITALS FOLLOWING MANCHESTER TERROR ATTACK

Following the devastating terror attack on Manchester Arena, children’s charity MedEquip4Kids is launching a special appeal with the aim of raising £100,000 to ensure that hospitals across Greater Manchester have the necessary equipment to provide emergency treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care for children and young people in the event of such incidents.

Sadly, many children were caught up in the event, with some subsequently admitted to hospital with life-changing injuries, and a number are still receiving critical care. For the last 30 years, MedEquip4Kids has worked closely with hospitals in the North West to provide equipment not available from limited NHS funds. The charity now wants to offer some extra support to the hospitals and their young patients at this time.

The funds raised will provide medical equipment and facilities for hospitals in Greater Manchester who treated children and young people injured in the attack, including North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM).

Thanks to the immediate response of its supporters VINCI Construction UK, MedEquip4Kids has this week been able to fund an AccuVein AV400 vein illumination device for Stepping Hill Hospital’s A&E department, so that clinicians carrying out venepuncture can see children’s veins which would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. This makes the procedure easier and reduces the stress caused to children in an already traumatic time.

Dr Chris Cooper, Associate Medical Director for Child and Family Services at Stepping Hill Hospital says: “Having the AccuVein scanner makes it easier to find veins on a patient, which makes inserting a needle easier and less uncomfortable. This is particularly important for children in an emergency situation where time is critical to give life saving intravenous treatment. I’d like to thank MedEquip4Kids and VINCI for their generous donation of this scanner which will help us to provide better and more sensitive care for our young patients in the future.”

Based in Manchester, MedEquip4Kids was founded in 1985, and since then the charity has raised over £20 million for equipment and resources to improve children’s health.

MedEquip4Kids Chief Executive Ghazala Baig says: “We were all so shocked by the devastating terror attack in the heart of our city. Sadly, many children and young people were caught up in the event, with some subsequently admitted to hospital with life-changing injuries needing long-term treatment and care. We want to offer our hospitals some extra support at this time to make sure they have everything they need. We hope the new AccuVein device will help the team at Stepping Hill to continue delivering excellent care to their young patients.”

Stepping Hill Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital also need mobile sensory units, which use fibre-optic lights and sounds to calm and relax distressed children. In addition, Royal Oldham Hospital needs toys, games and a baby-changing unit to improve facilities for children in the waiting area. The charity is consulting with the other hospitals to establish their current and ongoing equipment needs.

The charity is asking for any amount of donation you are able to give – this could involve taking part in a sponsored event to raise funds, such as the upcoming Manchester Color Run on 1^st July or one of the events in our Step Up September Challenge. You could even include work colleagues by setting up your own event, like a cake sale in the workplace or a pub quiz.

Donations can be made online via the website www.medequip4kids.org.uk or send a cheque made payable to MedEquip4Kids to: The Appeals Office, 90 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GP. Alternatively, text KIDZ05 £5 (or your chosen amount) to 70070.