Tears of joy as children's care staff get 'wish list'

OH, MY: The Hawke's Bay Hospital specialists crew Alison Wells (left), Jill Lowrey, Michelle Robertson and Rika Hentschel were delighted to hear their "wish list" of medical equipment has been granted. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

For several women who work within the maternity and children's units at Hawke's Bay Hospital there was a need for tissues to dry the eyes yesterday.

But the tears were fuelled not by sorrow - they were tears of joy as a "wish list" of much-needed medical equipment was ticked off before their eyes.

As Countdown general manager of strategic and corporate affairs Richard Manaton explained at a special function in Napier, $127,370 was raised in the wake of a 12-week programme of fundraising schemes put together by the local Countdown supermarket crew and staff from the Hawke's Bay District Health Board as part of the national Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal.

Twelve hospitals which have specialist care units for children across the country benefited from this year's national campaign to the tune of $1.3 million.

"The appeal is getting stronger and stronger every year and this region is one of the most engaged with it," Mr Manaton said.

At the start of the fundraising campaign, the Countdown crew asked the Hawke's Bay District Health Board for a list of items they would most like to see added to their medical resources.

Holding the list yesterday as he and senior staff joined hospital staff for the presentation, Mr Manaton crossed them off, one by one.

"You will be getting all you asked for this year," he concluded - and it was clear that for several of the delighted and overwhelmed medical staff the tissues were needed.

Among the many items ticked off were an auditory brainstem response unit ($34,987) and a colposcope system ($41,864).

Countdown has been running the hospital appeals annually for the past seven years and the Hawke's Bay District Health Board has benefited by about $400,000 so far.

"This is an amazing and generous gift," paediatrician and senior district health board staff member Phillip Moore said.

"We are just blown away."

As well as the cheque, hundreds of knitted booties, baby jackets and hats were also donated to the hospital.