Charity MedEquip4Kids is launching a special appeal with the aim of raising £100,000

Following the devastating terror attack on Manchester Arena, children’s charity MedEquip4Kids is launching a special appeal with the aim of raising £100,000 to ensure that hospitals across Greater Manchester have the necessary equipment to provide emergency treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care for children and young people in the event of such incidents.

Sadly, many children were caught up in the event, with some subsequently admitted to hospital with life-changing injuries, and a number are still receiving critical care. For the last 30 years, MedEquip4Kids has worked closely with hospitals in the North West to provide equipment not available from limited NHS funds. The charity now wants to offer some extra support to the hospitals and their young patients at this time.

The funds raised will provide medical equipment and facilities for hospitals in Greater Manchester who treated children and young people injured in the attack, including North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital, and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM).

Thanks to the immediate response of its supporters VINCI Construction UK, MedEquip4Kids has this week been able to fund an AccuVein AV400 vein illumination device for Stepping Hill Hospital’s A&E department, so that clinicians carrying out venepuncture can see children’s veins which would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. This makes the procedure easier and reduces the stress caused to children in an already traumatic time.

Dr Chris Cooper, Associate Medical Director for Child and Family Services at Stepping Hill Hospital says: “Having the AccuVein scanner makes it easier to find veins on a patient, which makes inserting a needle easier and less uncomfortable. This is particularly important for children in an emergency situation where time is critical to give life saving intravenous treatment. I’d like to thank MedEquip4Kids and VINCI for their generous donation of this scanner which will help us to provide better and more sensitive care for our young patients in the future.”