QUEUE-busting new facilities will open at St Cross Hospital thanks to a local charity’s efforts in raising over £70,000.
The Friends of St Cross cash boost will provide eight new blood-taking cubicles at the hospital – doubling the present number and improving the flow of patients through the department.
Now in their 60th year, the Friends of St. Cross charity group celebrated their diamond jubilee with an appeal to improve blood-taking facilities at the hospital.
A portion of the money collected was through a new scheme where patients of the hospital donated solely 5p pieces. Over 36,000 coins were collected, amounting to £1,800.
Friends President Joan Jesson said: “This is really excellent news in our Diamond Jubilee year. We have already committed £100,000 to the funding of the refurbishment element of the project which will see a big improvement in the facilities available for patients.
“The Blood Taking Service now sees 76,000 patients a year and is a very busy department, and this new area will be most welcome for staff and patients.”
Building work on the new blood-taking units should be completed by the end of September, and will be open for patients early in October.
Vice Chairman Willy Goldschmidt also thanked organisations who donated equipment since the launch of the Appeal – particularly the Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore who have donated over £5,000 to the Appeal, and to former Mayor Coun Ramesh Srivastava, who presented a cheque for £5,150 which had been donated to the Mayor’s Charity over the last year.
