Hospital staff to abseil 100ft building in fundraising challenge
It's to mark the opening of the brand new Acute Services Block and Ward Block
Staff at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and their family members will take part in a charity abseil today (Sunday 28 September), descending the hospital’s new Acute Services Block and Ward Block to raise funds for patient care.
The event, running from 9am to 4pm, will see 93 participants abseil 100 feet down the building ahead of its official opening.
Money raised will go towards Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity’s appeals supporting Neonatal Intensive Care, Maternity, Critical Care, and Surgery.
Sarah Amexheta, Head of the Hospital Charity, said: “This is the first time we've been able to do this. For those that live around the hospital, they'll have seen all of the cranes and the new block being built. But what this really is, is a generational change for our area.”
She added that the new facilities would replace buildings that have been in use for decades. “The maternity block has been the same for many, many years, so to have this bespoke and beautiful block that we're going to be able to share with all of those patients that are coming in for life-changing events is brilliant.”
So far, the abseil has raised £64,000. Ms Amexheta explained how the charity funds will be used: “We've been raising over £1,000,000 in total for this project. The money is not going towards the beds and the nuts and the bolts, it's going towards making these areas special to make patient experiences special.”
Planned additions include bereavement areas, counselling rooms, parent spaces, gardens for mothers in labour, and artwork to create a more supportive environment.
Pauline Yamfam, Senior Midwife for the antenatal ward, is also taking part in the abseil alongside her eldest son.
She said: “I have worked at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital for 22 years. Currently I'm the senior midwife for the antenatal ward in maternity. And yes, I'm going to brave the challenge on Sunday to abseil down that 100 foot building. Also, I've roped in one of my sons. I've got four boys all born at the hospital, and my eldest son will be taking the challenge with me.”
Ms Yamfam said the new facilities were vital for the growing population: “Year on year we're increasing the number of service users, we're increasing the numbers of deliveries in the unit. We're just under maybe 6000 deliveries now. The community is growing, the population is growing. So in order to deliver that service, this new unit is going to be a very integral part of that.”
She added: “I'm very, very proud to work here. I'm super proud that I safely delivered four of my children there and I feel with all the work and effort and stuff I do, I feel that I'm giving something back to the unit and I'm giving something back to our community.”
Donations can still be made via the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity website, with participants continuing to collect funds beyond the event.