Hands up if you want to help poorly children!

In your hands logo

The residents of Rochdale borough are being asked to raise their hands to support an exciting piece of artwork and the charity appeal for the new Women and Children’s ‘super centre’ at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

The hospital’s In Your Hands Appeal, which was launched in February last year by Coronation Street actress Jenny McAlpine (aka Fiz), is looking to raise £200,000 for the new purpose-built facility, which is due for completion in early December.

Money from the appeal will go towards additional equipment and furnishings to enhance the new unit, including a sensory room for children, special neonatal cots and transport incubators and an ultra-sound scanner for early pregnancy.

So far, the Appeal has raised just over £150,000 through fundraising, donations and pledges.

The latest phase of the appeal is to create a giant piece of artwork which will flow from the entrance of the new building to the numerous wards and departments. The artwork will be made up of hundreds of hands, which will have been digitally scanned for a £1 donation to the appeal.

Artist Rob Allen from Lime Arts said: “The concept is quite simple. It’s like a digital version of the hand prints we all used to do at school. By scanning hundreds of people’s hands we get this amazing variety of individuals, shapes, sizes and colours – these then combine together as life size images, overlapping one to the next like the leaves of a tree. The artwork is literally made up of all the people who have given money as part of the In Your Hands Appeal.”

"Imagine seeing hundreds of hands flowing down the entrance and corridor space, guiding you to the new services, and then knowing that all those individuals have in a small way helped to make this brilliant facility possible. This is your chance to put your mark literally on the new unit and offer your hand in support.”

The facility will involve a major new four storey building, the refurbishment of existing wards, new delivery rooms, obstetric theatres, a paediatric theatre, maternity beds and most significantly - a brand new Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Once the new development is complete, The Royal Oldham Hospital will be one of three regional centres providing the highest level of intensive care to the smallest and most vulnerable babies.

Staff at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, have already had their chance to have their hands scanned, and now it is the turn of the local community.

First in line was the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Olwen Chadderton, who had her hand scanned at Teddies day nursery at The Royal Oldham Hospital, along with the children there.

She said: “I am honoured to be asked to have my hands scanned for the In Your Hands Appeal. The new ‘super-centre’ is going to be a fantastic facility which will offer the highest level of care for women and children. I am immensely proud to be included in this wonderful piece of artwork of our community working together.”

Jan Bolton, fundraising manager at The Pennine Acute Trust, said: “This is such an exciting and worthwhile appeal. It has captured the imagination and support of so many people since we launched last year. It’s fantastic that we have raised around £150,000 with the help from MedEquip4Kids and Vinci Construction.

“We are now rolling out our hand scanning fundraising initiative as part of the Appeal and challenging our staff and the local community to step up to the challenge and give us their hands in helping us reach our target. Get your hand scanned for a pound and be part of the new building. We have two months left until the new facility is fully complete. Even the smallest amount to have your hand scanned, sponsor our staff or even set up your own fundraising event will help ensure that we have the best equipment to treat some of the tiniest babies and children and provide support families. It’s in your hands!”

The public can get their hand scanned for £1 by going to their local supermarket on the following days:

Tesco - Huddersfield Road - 20 October
Asda - Rochdale Superstore – 27 October
Sainsburys - Oldham - 26 & 27 October
Asda - Chadderton - 17 &18 November

To find out more about how you can help raise money for the In Your Hands appeal, or to make a donation, go to www.pat.nhs.uk/inyourhands or call 0161 918 4497.