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Superheroes take over Southmead Hospital
Batman and Superwoman were just two of the characters milling around Southmead Hospital atrium today, as Southmead Hospital Charity launched their new appeal, Do Something Super for Southmead.
Southmead Hospital Charity raises funds for Southmead and Cossham hospitals, community services, and North Bristol NHS Trust.
“Most of our money is spent either on new equipment or innovative research, as well as making the environment a place where patients want to come and feel confident that they’re going to get better,” says head of fundraising, Jane Ibbunson.
is needed now More than ever
As part of the launch event, nurses from Southmead hospital attempted to break the world record of fastest hospital bed making – which currently stands at an almost impossible 0.14 seconds.
There was also the ever-popular bake sale, running relays and live performances throughout the day from Horfield Primary School Choir, pianists, ballroom dancers, live zumba and even Frome-born The Voice contestant Tom Carpenter dropped in for a few songs.
The appeal hopes to raise an extra £1million over the next three years through community projects, and asks the people of Bristol to do something ‘super’ for their local hospitals.
Jane continues: “Whether that’s baking cakes, or as you can see we’ve got Batman on the treadmill – whatever you can do is super!”
Southmead Hospital Charity has already funded 55 research projects at Southmead Hospital, donating a total of £548,000.
Dr Kathreena Kurian is a consultant neuropathologist at Southmead Hospital. She has received funding from the charity to start a new research project which could help doctors find evidence of brain cancer cells in the blood.
If it’s successful, this research could save patients undergoing further invasive surgery, replacing an operation with a simple blood test.
She says: “These hospital charities are amazing for funding projects you wouldn’t normally get funding for. The NHS is great, but you wouldn’t normally get funding to start off this kind of idea.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this project unless I’d had that funding, so it’s very important.”
To find out more, visit www.southmeadhospitalcharity.org.uk.
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