Your funds have helped us Rays a Smile in Radiology

June 11, 2021 Off By admin

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has unveiled a film showcasing the huge difference its Rays a Smile Appeal has made for children having scans.

The Rays a Smile Appeal was launched in 2019 with the aim to make radiology services more child-friendly at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital. More than £150,000 was raised by individuals, schools and organisations across the district.

As a result, imaging rooms in X-Ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI have been refurbished to make them more appealing to children and nervous patients. Funds also paid for the following:

A Snuggle Room has been created to soothe babies to sleep to avoid general anaesthetic
Children’s waiting areas created in both hospitals
A Relax and View video system has been installed to relax patients having MRI scans
Sound systems have been installed in imaging rooms to allow families to listen to music
Toys and distraction equipment bought to put children at ease
New signage has been created (also known as wayfinding) to make it consistent with the Children and Young People’s Unit and create a brighter, more welcoming environment

You can view the film at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/rays-a-smile/

Dr LeeAnne Elliott, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Paediatric Radiologist, said: “Three years ago a small group of us met to imagine how we could improve Radiology for children and young people. We also wanted to organise our new wayfinding and waiting areas so that patients would feel much more relaxed when visiting us.

“The charity backed us with the ‘Rays a Smile for Radiology’ appeal and all the Radiology staff worked really hard in order to raise that money. We abseiled, we sky-dived, we ran marathons, we climbed mountains, and took part in the annual Bradford Dragon Boat Festival to raise the money.

“We were well supported by all of the community in Bradford, who have been amazing, and I’d like to thank them for that.

“The department looks and feels so much more friendly and I am hoping that patients and visitors will feel much more relaxed.”

LeeAnne said the improvements had also made the department a nicer space for the staff to work in.

Hayley Collis, Head of Fundraising for, Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, added: “The whole team in Radiology and Estates were amazing and really stepped up to the mark when it came to fundraising and negotiating with suppliers.

“Huge thanks must also go to the people of Bradford for their support. It’s hard to single out any one of our fundraisers, but in particular, we’d like to thank Molly-Mae Windle, ambassador for our Rays a Smile Appeal, who supported the appeal in many ways, including starring in the Rays a Smile launch film, running in the Bradford City Run as well as hosting her famous Facebook raffles too.

“We’d also like to give a special mention to Bingley Grammar School, who were truly inspired by our ambitions to help young children and raised a staggering £9,061 in their annual sponsored walk.”

To find out more about the Rays a Smile Appeal and how you can support Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s new appeal – the BIG Neonatal Appeal – visit https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/rays-a-smile/

If you would like to donate, fundraise or volunteer for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity – the official NHS charity partner of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – call the charity team on 01274 274809 or email charity@bthft.nhs.uk