Category: News

A new charity appeal to fund an interactive, digital ‘magic carpet’ for the young patients in Casey Ward at Epsom Hospital has just launched, with the soaring aim of bringing a ‘whole new world’ to the hospital’s dedicated childrens’ ward.

With a mobile projector, motion sensor and interactive mat, the magic carpet experience allows moving graphics and games to appear on the ground and reacts to movements – meaning patients can be transported to virtual seasides, or take part in a dance-off challenge!

And even more importantly, play can be touchless while the mat is easy to clean and sanitise between users. It comes with lots of pre-installed dancing and competitive games as well as educational themes to encourage physical activity, mental and sensory stimulation.  

Jessica Start, Play Specialist at Epsom Hospital, said: “In the current environment, this would be  a game changer for our lovely young patients. We know that children of all ages will enjoy its virtual technology – a toddler can pretend to splash around in the sea while a teenager can have a virtual kick-about. That’s why we’ve launched an appeal to try and get one for Casey Ward this year. We do know that times continue to be tough for people but if you are someone who can make a small donation, we would be immensely grateful.”

The Magic Carpet Appeal aims to raise the £8,000 needed to purchase and install the equipment. If you would like to make a donation and are able to spare some money at this time of year, you can do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Casey-Carpet.

People are also very welcome to take on a sponsored challenge to fundraise for this appeal (or any other service at Epsom and St Helier) – please email our Charity Team at team@esthcharity.org.uk for more information and support.

Image courtesy of Sensory Guru

During the run-up to Christmas, we launched our toy appeal for Casey Ward at Epsom, and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children at St Helier.  We had a great response.  The generosity of our local communities has been fantastic throughout the pandemic, and once again we’ve been amazed by the resilience and willingness of the public to support their local hospitals.  

Together with our Play Specialists we set up an Amazon Wish List of items that were carefully selected to create ‘single use play packs’ along with plastic toys which can be deep-cleaned and sanitised before use by another child. 

Here’s Play Specialist Sarah Montgomery with a selection of the toys at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, St Helier.

With the second wave, it looks like the play specialists will need to be creating play packs beyond the Twelve Days of Christmas! So, there’s still a chance to donate from the Wishlist if you’re able to.

In the meantime we’d like to send a big thank you to all the people who have donated so far, and to all our secret Santas too! 

Hardworking staff at Epsom and St Helier can now make the most of their breaks or find a moment of relaxation after a busy shift, thanks to a generous loan of two sleep pods.

The two space-age looking pods are designed specifically for twenty-minute power naps, and come complete with a hooded privacy visor and the option to play pre-programmed music or a relaxation guide. This means valued NHS staff are able to rejuvenate their minds and body in the break of a busy shift, or before heading home after clocking off for the day.

Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “Team ESTH always work hard to provide the best care to our patients, but the effort and determination they have shown through COVID-19 has been phenomenal. If anyone deserves to put their feet up for 20 minutes and make the most of a lunch break, it’s our staff!

“Evidence shows that for most people, a short 15 to 20-minute nap can help to reduce the impact of tiredness on people’s ability to function and can improve performance. But more importantly than that, being able to take a moment to relax and recuperate will be a real boost for the health and wellbeing of our staff, which in turn, has a positive effect on patient care and experience”.

Dr Shakil Rahman, Lead Respiratory Consultant at the Trust, has been at the very forefront of the Trust’s response to COVID-19, leading the team who cared for some of the sickest COVID-19 patients. He said: ‘I’ve tried the sleep pod and I can’t believe – even for a poor sleeper like me – how refreshed I feel. I will definitely be using it again and encouraging everyone to try some power naps, especially the junior doctors who work and study incredibly hard. I’ve been so proud of how the respiratory team and all my ESTH colleagues have faced the immense challenges of this pandemic, and I truly think their health and wellbeing has never been so important.”

The sleep pods have kindly been loaned to Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity by the company Restworks for a free two-month trial but – if the feedback from staff continues to be positive the charity could look to purchase them on a long-term basis. The Charity always welcome support from local people and businesses – if you would like to make a donation to this or any other project, please contact the team by email at team@esthcharity.org.uk or call 01372 735262.

For more information about Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity (registered charity number 1049197) visit www.esthcharity.org.uk.

For more information on Restworks, please visit: www.rest.works.

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After already raising a ‘shockingly’ good £650 for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, Iceland in Wallington will be pulling out all of the Halloween stops this weekend to raise even more money for your local NHS services.

So if you fancy a bit of Halloween fun with your weekly shop, get yourself down to Iceland Wallington (covid restrictions allowing) this weekend. You might spot staff who, in return for a small donation, will be swapping their usual uniforms for fancy dress and will be channelling their inner witches and warlocks (and even Super Mario). On Saturday, there’s the chance to win some ‘spooktacular’ raffle prizes including a hamper for children and a hamper for ‘grown-ups’ as well as some beautiful home-crafted teddies – with profits going straight back to Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

The cuddly toys were knitted by regular customer and local resident Emma Honeyman, who was born at St Helier and had her two children there too. Tickets are a bargain at £1 for five and the draw will take place on Saturday 31 October.

The store’s fundraising has been driven by long-serving employee and tireless Charity Champion Joani O’Brien who said: ‘I think it’s so important to support local charities.  Many of the team here have, at one time or another been looked after by the hospitals so we thought that now, more than ever, was the right to time to try and give something back to them!”

The store will continue to support Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity throughout Christmas and the New Year, so keep an eye out for what they have planned next!

Sasha Phillips, Fundraising Manager at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity said: “Thank you so much to Joani, Iceland Wallington, and all their customers. This is a lovely example of a community coming together to support their local hospitals and community services. The money raised will go towards funding projects that go ‘above and beyond’ to improve patient experience and staff welfare. Winter is traditionally a critical time for hospitals and with the added burden of the pandemic any extra funds at this time are much appreciated!”

Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity (registered charity number 1049197) always welcomes support from local people and businesses – if you would like to find out more about the charity, fundraise or make a donation, please email team@esthcharity.org.uk or call 01372 735262.

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A member of the Radiology team at Epsom Hospital is supporting the hospital’s dedicated charity and helping members of the public to stay safe from COVID-19 by crafting bespoke face masks in her spare time.

In just a few weeks Radiology Two-Week-Referral Co-ordinator Helen Bullen has already made and sold her target of 1,000 face masks – with profits going to Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity.

Helen began selling the face masks after making some for her two daughters and receiving requests from friends. She said: “I wanted to make fun masks for my daughters so that they wouldn’t feel anxious wearing one. After sharing photos on social media, I was inundated with requests from friends to make more. I thought why not, I love sewing and I find it really relaxing making masks after a busy shift at the hospital.

 “As a member of the team at Epsom and St Helier and also as a local resident, I wanted to give something back and do something to support my colleagues during the pandemic.

On choosing to raise money for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity, Helen added: “Everyone, from those working directly with patients with COVID-19 to those in administrative roles, has been working incredibly hard during the pandemic. Throughout this, our local communities have been amazingly generous – raising money for us and donating gifts and goods to our charity that have made a very real difference to us.”

Deputy Chief Executive Dr Ruth Charlton said: “We are so touched that after a busy shift at Epsom Hospital, Helen would give up her time to make these amazing masks to raise money for our charity. We owe her a huge thank you!

“Our staff have done an incredible job in caring for patients and helping to keep others safe during the pandemic, and Helen’s generous offer is testament to the commitment and passion of our staff.”

Some of the most popular patterns have included spots, bees, pugs and stripes, and Helen  also has several child friendly fabrics for facemasks, including footballs, flamingos and pirate skulls.

The face masks are made to order and available in 3 sizes (adult/teen /child) £4 each or 4 for £15 with £1 from each mask donated to the charity. To order contact Helen via Instagram www.instagram.com/helen.bullen.78 or by email hbullen78@hotmail.co.uk.

As a token of thanks to our staff, the South London Nepalese Gurkha Association has donated £1,154 to Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity.

The Association were so moved by the struggles faced by staff in recent months, and the unprecedented demand put on hospital services, that they desperately felt the need to give something in return.

For some members of the Association the donation was particularly personal – relatives who had caught coronavirus were cared for by St Helier’s ICU team for 25 days before, happily, being declared fit and healthy enough to return home to their families.

Fundraising Manager, Sasha Phillips, said: “Our communities have been overwhelmingly supportive of our local hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak. So we are yet again humbled to now receive this donation from our local Gurkha Association which will go towards providing additional support for staff wellbeing at the hospitals.”

If you would like to make a donation please visit Ways to give.