A CHARITABLE organisation devoted to raising money for Chase Hospital has dug deep once more to provide new equipment. The League of Friends handed out several thousands of pounds worth of apparatus to appreciative staff at the Macllwain Ward on Monday. The money was raised by ever-willing volunteers, who strive to ensure the success of the community hospital. The ward received pads and slings costing £1,378, two reclining chairs at £2,044, two new drug trolleys at £1,480, some inflatable cushions and a pump, together costing £599. "This year, we have raised just over £7,000 for equipment, which was presented this week and there are other pieces of equipment which League of Friends will purchase for the Chase in the near future," said John Moody, Chase Hospital League of Friends chairman. He continued: "To raise money, we hold stalls and fêtes and various events including our big Christmas fair. There is a League of Friends coffee shop in the hospital which is open each weekday." The charity is aided by donations from various outside organisations. For example, last July, the Saffron Indian Restaurant staged two fundraising events which amassed £1,100. Mr Moody said: "A department asks us for money whenever it needs a piece of apparatus and we see if we can provide the money. But until the hospital requests funding, the money remains in our trust fund. "We do our best to pay 100 per cent of the cost of the equipment. "Our largest ever sum raised was £70,000 for the X-ray department and over the last three years, we have spent £30,000. We have raised approximately £10,000 for the ear, nose and throat department, £10,000 for the eye department, and a further £7,000 so far this year. It works out to be around £10,000 raised each year, but it can be as much £15,000." The chairman said that it was very important for the League of Friends to be well supported and to have as many people involved as possible. He said: "We have an AGM, which will be held on May 24, at 2-30 pm, and anyone interested in joining the League of Friends should come to that. "Alternatively, they can just come along at any time, because we are always happy to have new members. The membership only costs £3 a year." It was announced at the League of Friends' last AGM that although donations had increased by more than £3,000, membership subscriptions had fallen, which was a concern. The staff in the Macllwain ward, which recieved the drugs trolleys, were delighted with their new equipment, and of the new trolleys. Sister Ann Malone said: "This piece kit will help us to do our drug rounds which we must do four times a day. "It is very important to us because it allows us administer essential medication on time. First thing in the morning, we do a drug round and, whereas before we only had one rather old trolley, we now have two new ones and because our ward divided into two, our work is now much easier. "There are 24 patients on the ward and you can imagine that first I would have to do my section and the staff nurse would have to wait until I had finished before she could do hers, which sometimes caused problems." She added: "The League of Friends is invaluable. I just don't know what the hospital would do without it. "We greatly appreciate their continued support to the ward and the hospital as a whole. It is always nice to see their smiling faces around the place as well." The Macllwain ward was redeveloped in 2004 and staff decided to wait to see the new facility in operation before making any requests to the League of Friends. The charity has continued to fully support the hospital and its diagnosis treatment centre was awarded more than £13,000 of which £11,000 was spent on monitoring equipment, which has helped to cut waiting lists dramatically.
