£1m appeal launched for new Shropshire respiratory centre
A £1m fundraising campaign will help pay for specialist equipment at a planned centre bringing respiratory assessment and treatment together under one roof
A £1 million fundraising appeal has been launched to help equip a new specialist respiratory centre planned for Shropshire patients.
Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley has welcomed the appeal, saying the centre could improve diagnosis and reduce hospital stays for people with respiratory conditions.
The appeal was launched as the Friends of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital celebrated its 60th anniversary.
The planned centre will bring specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment together under one roof for patients from Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Mid Wales.
It is hoped the facility will open within two years.
Mrs Buckley said: "It will be a real gamechanger in local health care, greatly improving diagnosis and shortening hospital stays.
"Over 30 per cent of hospital patients in our county present with a respiratory condition. Having a specialist unit for tailored care will greatly enhance their treatment and preventative measures."
Money raised through the appeal will help pay for additional specialist equipment, including apparatus used to carry out bronchoscopies, which allow doctors to examine the lungs.
Dr Saskia Jones-Perrott, divisional medical director for medicine and emergency care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, has described the centre as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".
She said bringing specialist teams and facilities together could help shorten hospital stays and reduce unnecessary admissions.
Mrs Buckley also praised the Friends charity and its volunteers, who were recognised at the anniversary celebrations for long service spanning 10, 20 and 30 years.
The charity supports the hospital trust through fundraising and volunteering, including in hospital shops and wards.
For more information about the respiratory centre appeal, visit the Friends of SaTH website.