An NHS charity’s appeal to fundraise for a state-of-the-art patient entertainment system has been buoyed by a donation from a modular construction company.

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund, which supports staff, patients and volunteers at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (ROH), received a £600 donation from ModuleCo Healthcare (MCH).

The company designs and builds fully-fitted, high quality healthcare buildings, which are produced using state of the art modular construction techniques and delivered in a matter of weeks.

Representatives from MCH visited the hospital to hand over the donation, which will help support a new Patient Entertainment System that will be installed in the coming months. The system will be available at every patient’s bedside and will allow them to, among other things, communicate with loved ones, listen to music and stream films and TV.

MCH is a long-term supporter of The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, having finished construction of a new state-of-the-art ward, theatre and recovery suite in December 2020.

The company also previously sponsored the ‘Clinical Achievement Award’ at the hospital’s Staff Awards ceremony in February 2020 and attended the ceremony to help cheer staff on.

Ali Gray, Fundraising Manager at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund, said: “We cannot thank MCH enough for supporting our Christmas Appeal. It’s been a challenging 12 months at ROH and for every other NHS Trust in the country. We, along with other NHS charities, really do need support more than ever.

“This donation has meant that the charity has now raised close to £7,000 towards the patient entertainment system, which will be vital in supporting patients through their recover after surgery. Corporate partnerships are very positive in fundraising and I am excited to continue working with MCH for many years to come.”

This amount is the highest The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund has ever raised in a Christmas Appeal, despite the cancellation of key fundraising events due to COVID-19. The appeal was created to help support patients and staff over a very difficult Christmas period, as well as to support the implementation of the entertainment system.

The project has been also heavily supported by NHS Charities Together, who wanted to support the trust’s vision for exemplary patient entertainment whilst in hospital.

Alan Wilson, Managing Director at MCH, said: “We’ve worked closely with ROH for a number of years now and have established a fantastic relationship with the team during that time.

“When we heard about the fundraising effort for the new patient entertainment system, we were keen to get involved and do as much as we could to help get closer to the target.

“We work with NHS Trusts up and down the country, so we know how tough the last year has been with the limitations on people getting out to take on typical fundraising activities. We’re thrilled that our contribution has helped and it’s clear that this new piece of equipment will be another great way to improve the patient experience.”

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund relies heavily on donations from corporate partners and sponsors, especially as events, a key stream of revenue for the charity, were cancelled throughout 2020.

For more information on the charity, and how to donate, click here.

A group of key workers have set up a football team to raise vital funds for the charities supporting the NHS through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nightingale F.C was formed in April 2020, in the early stages of the national lockdown imposed by the government due to the spread of the coronavirus.

The team was formed to raise money for NHS Charities Together, which supports more than 240 NHS charities across the UK and focuses on helping hospitals do more, and raise awareness of the difficult period the service is facing. The squad is made up of NHS and key workers, such as paramedics and teachers, to show the unity and togetherness that has been so important throughout the pandemic.

It has quickly become one of the fastest growing charity football teams in the UK online, having amassed thousands of followers across various social media platforms. The team has also been featured on local radio, podcasts and online media, and received endorsements from football manager Harry Redknapp and radio DJ Scott Mills.

The name comes from the NHS Nightingale hospitals built nationwide to support the large numbers of additional patients at the peak of the pandemic.

Its main sponsor is The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund, the charity which provides support to NHS patients, their families and carers, as well as specialist training, equipment and knowledge to staff at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (ROH). They support the ‘added extras’ across the hospital to enhance patient and staff experience. An example being their upcoming appeal to support the development of a new tailored environment for children and young patients at the Trust, which involves sensory equipment, waiting room entertainment, a quiet reflection room and more.

Ali Gray, the charity’s Fundraising Manager, said: “Our charity has unsurprisingly fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic after a hugely challenging 12 months. It is however, important to have hope and continue to plan for the future and we are therefore delighted to sponsor this positive initiative in our local area.

“It is lovely that some of our colleagues are involved with the club and we all encourage the general public to support us if they can.

“Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support both NHS Charities Together and The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.”

If allowed, there will be fortnightly fixtures against national and local charities and ‘legends’ teams throughout 2021.

Nick Sanders, Manager of Nightingale F.C, said: “The NHS is a prime example of what can be achieved when people work together for a shared cause.

“There are no limits to what we can do collectively and the NHS teaches us and the next generation the importance of respect and how to solve problems effectively.

“We want Nightingale to be recognised as a beacon of hope through football built upon inclusiveness, equality and togetherness.”

There were over 25,000 views of the new shirt within the first 48 hours through the team’s Twitter page leading to shirt sales outside of the U.K. – a first for Sporty Bits UK, who created the kit. The kit was also victorious in a recent online ‘World Cup of Kits’ competition, winning out of 128 non-league or charity teams from the UK, USA and Europe.

The next steps for the team include partnerships with academies/soccer schools and initiatives and securing further funding and support for their cause, including strengthening its relationship with ROH.

You can find out more about Nightingale FC on Twitter and Facebook and the teams limited edition shirt is available to buy here.

A company that gave thousands to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund have “saved Christmas”, according to its Fundraising Manager.

 Genmed donated £5,000 to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund’s Christmas Appeal, an annual fundraising effort by the Northfield specialist NHS trust. The purpose of the appeal is to fund added extras for patients and staff over the Christmas period that the NHS cannot, such as gifts, bedside entertainment systems and support tools for patients, and training for staff. 

 Fundraising revenue for the charity is down £25,000 on the previous year, due mainly to cancellation of events. It has been buoyed however, by a portion of funds received from NHS Charities Together, which included money raised by Sir Captain Tom Moore in the summer. 

 Genmed’s generous donation allowed the Trust to decorate Christmas trees across the hospital site, including a mammoth tree at their main entrance, measuring approximately 60 feet! 

 Genmed helps clients to gain operational and financial efficiencies through managed services and supply chain excellence. They offer a complete range of procurement and supply chain activities including; spend data analytics, sourcing work plans, cost improvement programmes, inventory management and logistics solutions.

Genmed’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Wedgbury, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and to sponsor the Christmas lights this year. The lights are wonderful, and I hope they continue to bring joy to the hard-working teams at RoH, their patients and visitors, as they have done today.”  

 Ali Gray, Fundraising Manager at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Charitable Fund, said: “Thank you so much to Genmed for their generous donation of £5,000 to this year’s Christmas Appeal. 

“After the most challenging year the NHS has ever faced, support for our charity is needed more than ever. We are incredibly grateful that their donation has allowed us to decorate our Christmas trees with beautiful lights to lift the spirits of our patients and staff.  

“Genmed have saved Christmas!” 

If you would like to donate to our Christmas appeal, click here.