Hello everyone, welcome to my Bank Holiday blog.
We’ve had a fantastic day at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital today (Friday) as we’ve hosted local radio station 2BR.
News Reporter Sarah Collins has been broadcasting live throughout the day for National Local Radio Day focussing on our charity ELHT&Me and our £1m Appeal. The charity makes a real difference to our services, patients, visitors, equipment and environment. Listeners have been told all about the huge positive impact the charity has on the Trust, and how they can contribute. We’ve set up text giving (Text ‘ELHT44’ followed by £3 or £5 or £10 to 70070 and today have raised more funds thanks to the exposure from 2BR. We’ll be partnering with them on future events and we’re really grateful for their ongoing support. Thank you. The culmination of the day was draw of the raffle for the child’s electric Tesla car – itself a donation from a kind supporter Tony Mills of ChargePoint Europe who chose the winner – and we’ve raised hundreds of pounds for our children’s ward. It was won by Susan Hindle who works in the Cardiac Catheter Lab at Royal Blackburn Hospital. Well done, Susan!
We have many fantastic staff working for us, dedicating their careers to the NHS, and I am constantly awed by them, but they can’t stay forever, and eventually they retire! Consultant surgeon, Mr Rob Watson, retired this week after 46 years in the NHS, the last 27 of those here in East Lancashire. And judging by the reaction to news of Rob’s retirement on our social media channels, he was held in the highest regard by many, many people. Our Facebook channel, in particular, attracted 600+ ‘Likes’ and more than 100 comments from patients and families, wow! Comments were very moving “Wishing you a wonderful retirement from someone who’s life you saved over 20 years ago when everyone else had given up”, “thanks for saving my dad’s life - great loss to the NHS” and “Such a fab man and surgeon. Lucky to have worked with him. All the best for your retirement xx” are just three messages of thanks which show how highly Rob was regarded. Thanks for your many years of service Rob and enjoy a long and happy retirement from all your colleagues at ELHT.
Rob’s not the only doctor here to attract praise, of course! Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Jason Lie works at both Burnley General and Royal Blackburn teaching hospitals, and has received a certificate of excellence after getting more than 50 outstanding recommendations from his patients on the health website, I Want Great Care (www.iwgc.org). Well done Jason. And, if you are reading this and think ‘I’ve had great care’ perhaps you’ll go to the website and make a recommendation.
As we start the Bank Holiday weekend, my fingers are firmly crossed that we have another scorcher (that would be a record surely) for our staff and their families to enjoy. The weather certainly did us proud last weekend for the Serenity Fun Run Day at Witton Country Park. I’ve had the pleasure to meet Jo and Mark Edwards who have overcome a personal tragedy to raise thousands of pounds to improve treatment and care for the women and children of East Lancashire. Jo, Mark and their supporters are an inspiration and, on this occasion, they raised over £8,000 that will help the Trust’s maternity services. That’s a huge amount, so thank you to all.
So, have a fantastic weekend everybody. I’d like to extend a special thanks to all our staff who will be working over the Bank Holiday, providing safe, personal and effective care – as usual. Thank you, and, until next time….