FUND-RAISERS across the district have been praised for their commitment to Stratford Hospital’s £1million appeal.
Hospital chiefs are looking to create a new cancer and state-of-the-art eye treatment centre at the existing site on Arden Street.
It is hoped the appeal will help fund everything from specialist chemotherapy chairs to iPads that do not come as standard in the new £22million hospital.
The current total stands at £633,000 so to acknowledge the community’s involvement and their fund-raising efforts so far, friends of the appeal committee gathered on site recently for a special photo.
Appeal chairman Denys Shortt said: “It is great to see so many people who have helped to make the appeal a real success.
“As we look towards the future and reaching our goal, it’s important to remember those who have brought us this far and thank them for everything they have done.”
And despite being well on the way to reaching their £1million goal, hospital chiefs are still keen to rally support for the appeal.
Chair of the appeal committee, Jenny Farrell, added: “When we started, the £1million target looked a little daunting but it quickly went from strength to strength.
“It is great we have received so much support from the community and I really would encourage more people to get involved and help make Stratford Hospital the best it can possible be.”
Plans for the hospital were given the green light by Stratford District Council at the end of 2014.
The new cancer unit – based on Warwick Hospital’s Aylesford Unit – will be made up of 12 treatment chairs and two side rooms.
It will allow chemotherapy to be carried out on site and will provide an outpatient facility for cancer services as well as an emergency cancer unit where patients can receive specialist care rather than using A&E.
The eye unit meanwhile, will give people access to specialised eye treatment facilities and will include a new state-of-the-art theatre, which is designed to treat a range of eye conditions.
Hospital chiefs hope the new facilities will make it easier for patients who live within Stratford district and south Warwickshire.
The hospital is expected to open in spring 2017.
Visit www.stratfordhospital.co.uk for further information about the appeal.
