Charity kick starts NGH fundraising drive for emergency assessment bay with £10,000 cash boost

Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund, which aims to enhance patient experience beyond what the NHS can fund, has set up a fundraiser to develop and transform an area on Talbot Butler ward to create a purpose-built facility for haematology and oncology patients.

Yesterday (Friday, March 9) the founders of Northamptonshire-based trust, The Angel Foundation handed over a cheque to kickstart the fundraising drive, coordinated by Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund.

In late 2013, after a late diagnosis, Matthew Master's mum Angela was diagnosed with a rare, incurable form of cancer called Myeloma. She showed strength in her treatment before falling ill again with a more aggressive form of the disease in 2014 and eventually passed away in September.

Matthew, who set the trust up with his dad, Dave said: "This changed my outlook on the world, and as cliche as it sounds it really makes you appreciate the simple things in life. But I wanted to make something good from such a dark time. So, with my father, and the kind and generous support of those around us, we founded The Angel Foundation.

"Its core aim is to raise lots of money by holding lots of events from skydives to quizzes in order to help continue the work on Talbot Butler and also support drugs research development through Myeloma UK to finally find a cure for this evil disease.

"Through their research in recent years, Myeloma sufferers have seen the best improvements in long term survival rates, compared to any other cancer. So we wanted to help take this even further."

Oncology and haematology patients are often ill between their treatment cycles and require emergency support and review, sometimes immediately.

The new bay will have dedicated areas for triage, assessment and examinations in a spacious environment, which offers patients round-the-clock specialist care.

The urgent nature of these complications means that patients are unable to wait for outpatient appointments.

Currently, the support provided to patients is to attend the emergency assessment bay in the oncology outpatient department, between 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday.

Alternatively - outside of these times and when capacity has been reached in the current bay - the patients are advised to visit A&E.

With the patient’s immune system often compromised due to treatment, they can find themselves exposed to unnecessary infection in A&E, which the new bay aims to quash.

He added: "Our goal is to raise £100,000, split between Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund and Myeloma UK.

"After a little over two years are just under £30,000 in and we are so proud to be able to kick start the funding for the £350,000 EAU on Talbot Butler."

To donate or fundraise for the new bay, contact the charity team on 01604 626927 or email the team on [email protected].