A CHARITY has snapped up £81,000 for vital new lifesaving equipment.
The Big Red Heart Appeal has raised just over half the money it needs for a £160,000 gamma camera that will be used by staff at Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital to scan patients' hearts for blood flow abnormalities.
As reported, the Grimsby Telegraph-backed campaign is also hoping to raise a total of £500,000 for equipment to be installed in a new heart unit at the Scartho Road hospital.
Among the items on the campaigners' wish list are a new tilt table room and at least 11 bedside monitors.
Founder of the Big Red Heart Appeal, Ron Kitching, from the Grimsby and District Healthcare Charity, said: "We have presented the heart unit with a cheque for £81,000.
"I was hoping to have had enough to buy the camera in full by now but there are so many other charities competing for the same money, it is really tough.
"However, we are remaining positive and are happy to be halfway there.
"Our heart department is one of the best in the area and we want to make it even better.
"If we can get the funding for the new lab, it will make a tremendous improvement to our services.
"We are very grateful to everyone that has supported us but we need more.
"We need half a million pounds before next September to help pay for all the new equipment required.
"The new lab would allow us to fit more advanced pace makers and carry out technical treatments.
"We are also desperate to get more people involved in the fundraising committee.
"We need new fresh ideas because we have to have the money as soon as possible, otherwise we cannot get the equipment."
Trust chief executive Karen Jackson said: "I would like to say a very big thank you to the Big Red Heart Appeal and all of the people who have supported it, for the £81,000 donation the trust has recently received.
"The money will be used to buy new cardiology equipment for the proposed new cardiology day case unit at Grimsby Hospital."
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