Wishes come true for hospital team

The Hawke's Bay District Health Board crew, led by chief operating officer Sharon Mason (right) with the six-figure slice of funding assistance they received recently. Photo / Roger Moroney

For the past eight years, the Women, Children and Youth Services of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board have compiled an annual "wish list" of items they would like to see on site to help them in their work.

And every year, since they forged a collaboration with the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal, which benefits 10 hospitals with specialist care units throughout the country, they have seen many of those wishes granted.

This year was no exception, and there was added delight among the hospital team who called at Countdown on Thursday morning for the cheque handover from Progressive Enterprise's strategic and corporate affairs general manager Richard Manaton.

"On your wish list you wanted a CTG machine. Well, you are going to get two - that is $60,000 worth."

A CTG is a cardiotocography, which checks a baby's heartbeat during pregnancy.

There was applause at that news but it got even better.

The HBDHB will also be getting an audioscan and hearing aid analyser, a cardiac monitor for the children's ward, sensory modulation equipment for the Child Development Service, MRI and CT scanners, and a manometer for the intensive care unit.

"All put together it comes to the grand sum of $104,309," Mr Manaton announced - and the applause simply got louder.

"It is absolutely fantastic," HBDHB chief operating officer Sharon Mason said.

"It is an absolute privilege and a pleasure to accept this on behalf of the DHB."

She said the fundraising was clearly going from strength to strength every year, and the results had greatly enhanced the high standard of care they strived for.

Head of paediatrics Kai Steinmann said gaining the "wish list" items year after year made a huge difference.

"We come together to raise this money and to also have fun," said Mr Steinmann, adding with a smile that next year the health crew would do better at the Countdown quiz night.

"All I can say is thank you, as this is enormously appreciated."

The annual fundraiser also features the delivery of knitted items from dozens of volunteers.

These include bonnets and booties and kids things - boxes of them.

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal has been running since 2008, and is a fundraising collaboration between Countdown and health service staff.

Each year, the team stages an intensive 12-week fundraising programme that includes everything from quiz nights, movie and theatre nights, through to food stalls, cycling and walking events.

Adding Thursday's cheque, since 2008 the DHB's specialist services have benefited to the tune of $637,590.