Eye Department patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital ‘raised their glasses’ in celebration of the hospital’s charity reaching its £300,000 Eye Believe target. Closing the appeal, rather fittingly, on World Orthoptic Day, over five thousand patients will now benefit from the makeover every year. In desperate need of the overhaul, the transformation will see the addition of a brand new play area with an interactive floor and toys suitable for children with impaired vision. Plus the waiting room will double in size to provide more comfortable seating for mums and dads, as well as allow for a much-needed buggy park.
It has taken just seven months to raise the funds needed. Cherelle Ribera, mum to six-year-old Kian Saunders from Warstock, said: “Kian was delighted to be involved in the appeal’s closure.
“The doctors and nurses at the Eye Department are fantastic, but the department itself isn’t always the most comfortable place to be. We have to come to the hospital every six months and the waiting area is usually hot and overcrowded, making it not the ideal place to spend time with a child.
“We’re so excited that the appeal has closed and can’t wait for the makeover to start as it’ll benefit thousands of families like ours.”
Eye Department Orthoptist, Raadhika Shinh, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support of patients and the public in helping us achieve our target.
“Children can get restless and upset when they wait in an enclosed, hot space but thanks to you we can now transform each child’s experience so that they enjoy and look forward to visiting the Eye Department.”
The makeover is expected to start later this summer and will be completed by the end of October 2016. All monies, including those that have already been pledged, have been counted in the total.
