Kids in tune for appeal

ABC Hastings preschoolers are pictured shortly after their performance at the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal launch at Hawke's Bay Hospital. Photo / Duncan Brown

Children took centre stage for themselves yesterday for the launch of the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal.

With Children's Commissioner Russell Wills looking on, Peterhead School performed a wero and ABC Preschoolers sang.

Fundraising got off to a quick start with raffles, a cake stall and a sausage sizzle.

The appeal raises money for medical equipment for the 10 children's wards across the country. Last year it raised $85,935 for Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Since 2007 the appeal, which runs to October 31, has raised nearly $7 million nationally. More than $400,000 of that has been allocated to the Hawke's Bay Hospital's Children's Service and related areas.

Hawke's Bay District Health Board (DHB) service director women, children and youth services, Rika Hentschel, said the appeal allowed the DHB to invest in all areas of the hospital used by children.

"The money has to be used for capital projects, and in the past we have sourced equipment and upgraded hospital facilities," she said.

"We have looked not only at the Children's Ward, SCBU and the Maternity Ward, but also ED and ICU. We always look at what is absolutely necessary. The money can be used wherever children access care in the hospital, the community or as an outpatient.

"Recently Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal money was the major contributor to the purchase of a top of the range portable scanner used in pre-natal care from Mahia in the north to Waipukurau in the south, and the Chatham Islands."