Hospital Charity launches BIG 7TEA ahead of NHS 70

Date: 26 April 2018

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IN 70 days the NHS turns 70 and to mark the milestone occasion The Medway Hospital Charity is asking the people of Medway and Swale to raise a cuppa to celebrate our wonderful health service.

The NHS Big7Tea party will be a chance for people up and down the country to come together to raise money for their local hospital and to toast 70 years of the NHS.

On Thursday 5 July, host your own tea party, bake cakes and invite friends, family and colleagues along to raise money to support the vital work of Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

The Big7Tea party is just one way the 70th anniversary is being celebrated in Medway. A summer fair is being organised at Medway Maritime Hospital on Saturday 7 July when local people are being invited to come to the hospital for fun and celebrations. Other activities to mark the anniversary will be announced soon.

The humble cup of tea has a long and proud association with the NHS. Originally served to patients in traditional fine cups with saucers and side spoon, tea was considered an important aspect of patient satisfaction and recovery.

Thousands of patients enjoy tea in our hospital, clinics and local GP surgeries every day. Tea brings us all together. It breaks down social boundaries, and like the NHS and NHS charities, is a symbol of comfort and community.

Donna Law, Charity and Fundraising Manager at The Medway Hospital Charity, said: “Our hospital charity is an important source of income for Medway NHS Foundation Trust. Donations from thankful patients and their families enable the charity to buy items which fall outside of the NHS budget. This incredible generosity really does make a difference.

“In 2018, your donations have enabled The Medway Hospital Charity to spend more than £100,000 on a breast cancer biopsy machine, ENT equipment, chairs for our cancer wards plus an annual subscription to the Sparkle newsletter to support our dementia patients.

“The contribution the NHS has made to people’s lives is worth celebrating. Organising an NHS 7Tea party, inviting along family and friends to raise money whilst sharing your NHS stories, is a great way to thank staff at your hospital.”

There are more than 250 NHS charities across the UK. Most of them focus on helping our hospitals do more, while others support mental health trusts, community health trusts and ambulance trusts.

In recent years NHS charities have funded major capital projects, pioneering research and medical equipment in hospitals, helping patients access the best possible care when they need it most.

They also play a key role in mobilising volunteers to support NHS staff, brightening wards and waiting areas with colourful and engaging art and building an important link between our hospitals and our communities.

The NHS Big 7Tea will raise awareness of the vital work of NHS charities and let the public know how to support them, for instance by making a donation or offering to volunteer.

So why not host your own tea party, celebrate 70 years of the NHS and raise vital funds for The Medway Hospital Charity? To download your free fundraising NHS Big 7Tea pack visit https://www.medway.nhs.uk/nhs70.htm or email medwayft.charity@nhs.net for more information. Alternatively, call the fundraising team on 01634 825398 if you’d like to know more.

  • Summary:

    In 70 days the NHS turns 70 and to mark the milestone occasion The Medway Hospital Charity is asking the people of Medway and Swale to raise a cuppa to celebrate our wonderful health service.