THE Friends of St Cross’ Diamond Jubilee Appeal to fund the revamp and relocation of the blood taking service now stands at £11,137.
It has been boosted this week by a £1,000 donation from a benefactor, who wished to remain anonymous, in memory of a recently departed friend.
Spokesman Willy Goldschmidt said over the years many people had chosen to make donations in memory of friends or relatives, either at funerals or to mark an anniversary of their passing, knowing the Friends would put the money to good use in support of the hospital or community and mental health services.
He added: “We appreciate donations of all sizes.
“The 5p Pee Pots are proving very popular, they can hold up to £2.25 in 5p pieces and we are hearing of all sorts of tubes being used by people putting a little aside to support us. Thank you so much.”
The Friends general fund-raising has not stopped and three sets of surgical instruments used in orthopaedic and spinal surgery have been handed to theatre staff by the Friends of St Cross.
The specialist instruments called Cobbs Elevators separate bone from tissue in operations such as hip or knee replacements.
They are the latest donation from the fund-raising group and come after a £200,000 upgrade of the theatres paid for by the hospital trust.
St Cross manager Juliet Starkey said: “The theatre upgrade has meant the breadth of operations this theatre will be able to provide is increased and the donation from the Friends will help us increase the number of patients that use this facility.
“Currently, we undertake over 60 per cent of all elective surgery of this type for
patients from Rugby and Coventry – yes patients from Coventry come to Rugby for hip and knee replacements and many of them ask to come here for any additional treatments they require.”
To support the appeal log onto fsx.org.uk.
