Presentation of cheque to Friends of Wexford General Hospital “Wexford MRI Now”, proceeds of 2016 Hospital Ball. Back: Catriona Murphy (Hospital Ball), Dora Kent (Danone Nutricial), Ali O’Brien (McCauley’s Pharmacy), Mayor of Wexford. Cllr. Frank Staples, Prof. Colm Quigley, Joe O’Brien (Clayton Whites Hotel), Colette Gilligan (Danone Nutricial), Tina Carley (AIB) and Eliot Norval (McCauley’s Pharmacy). Front: Peter Murphy (Wexford Hospital), Roisin Ffrench (Wexford Hospital), Lily Burns (GM (Wexford Hospital), Edel Fitzmaurice (Friend’s of WGH), Gina Monahan (Wexford Hospital) and Brian McGrath (Wexford Hospital). Pic: John Walsh
WEXFORD GENERAL Hospital is now almost €21,000 closer to obtaining a important piece of diagnostics equipment, thanks to the very successful return of the Hospital Ball in Wexford before Christmas.
Organisers, hospital representatives, esteemed members of the local community and supporters of the campaign alike gathered at the hospital entrance for the presentation of proceeds from the fantastic evening to the ‘MRI Now’ fundraising campaign.
There was consensus that such a good time was had on the occasion organised by the ‘Friends of Wexford Hospital’ charity in conjunction with hospital management and a number of hospital staff, it should become an annual fixture on the town’s social and community calendar.
Indeed, plans are being put in place for the 2017 ball already.
Speaking as funds were presented, General Manager at Wexford General Hospital, Lily Byrnes, praised all who had helped to make the event such a success and all who had helped to kick-start the ‘MRI Now’ campaign.
“We’re very grateful and very proud of them and delighted to be in receipt of it [€21k] and to work with the Friends to support the hospital here in Wexford,” she said.
Questioned as to whether members of a local community ought to have to fundraise for the installation of such a costly device, Ms. Byrnes said: “I think it’s very much a reality for health services.
“There are Friends in almost every hospital in different formations and I think it’s really positive and it links the community with the hospital and with business.
“It gives a sense of ownership to people in the county as well that they’re supporting their hospital, that they’re involved and they know what’s happening.”
On behalf of the organisers, Brian McGrath offered his thanks to all of the businesses and the sponsors who had shown their support for the event.
Sam McCauleys, Wexford County Council, Danone Nutricia and AIB Bank were all among this year’s corporate sponsors.
Clinical Director at Wexford General Hospital, Professor Colm Quigley, said the success of the Hospital Ball’s return was yet “another example of the tremendous support Wexford General Hospital gets.”
Since sheep breeders in Wexford raised funds for the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit over 30 years ago, Professor Quigley highlighted, people in the community had raised funds for equipment including two CT scanners and ultrasound facilities.
“This particular ball was the start of fundraising for the MRI machine which will bring Wexford General Hospital into the 21st Century for diagnostic equipment very much needed for our patients in the hospital and for the future of the hospital,” he said.
Read more in the Wexford Echo.