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Vol 27 l Issue 8
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19 February 2020
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ANGELA’S DEFIB CAMPAIGN IN MEMORY OF MUM Report by Kenny Parker
A PUBLIC-spirited woman from Rufford has raised almost £6,500 to buy two public defibrillators in memory of her late mum. Recognising the desperate need for the potential lifesaving devices in rural areas, Angela BruceKonuah launched her appeal in memory of her mother Joan, who passed away in September 2015 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The community rallied to support the project with contributions being made by various charitable organisations including Douglas Valley Lions Club, Rufford Lodge Freemasons, Tesco Bags of Help, Rufford Women’s Institute, AED Donate, as well as Rufford Parish Council and local residents. There were also two separate anonymous donations of £1,000 each. In total, the appeal raised £6,417 towards the cost of buying and installing the two defibrillators. Some of the money was also used to refurbish the disused phone box on Highsands Avenue, Rufford which was sandblasted and fitted with new glazing to house one of defibrillators. The other is located outside Holmeswood Methodist Church in Chapel Lane. Meanwhile, a donation £500 provided by Jones Homes, which has two developments in Rufford,
Louise Holmes of Jones Homes with Angela at the phone box defibrillator.
will cover the cost of replacement batteries and pads for the defibrillators as part of their future maintenance. Angela said: “The last few months have been a difficult but fascinating journey. The community
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has really come together to help get this project off the ground, and I am so happy that we are now at a stage where we have the funding to manage and maintain these defibrillators for years to come. “The BT phone box was such an important part of our community and it was important to me to save it from being decommissioned. I thought that by utilising it to house one of the defibrillators, this would not only give a new life to the phone box, but would also be a great way to remember my mum. “I wanted to give something back to the community and hopefully inspire others to do the same in their own communities. This project has already inspired another campaign which has seen another defibrillator installed on Rufford Park. “I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed towards the appeal to buy the defibrillators and refurbish the BT phone box, and to Jones Homes whose donation will ensure these lifesaving pieces of equipment will be maintained for the next 10 years.” Carol Barlow, sales director for Jones Homes Lancashire, said: “Angela’s campaign to save this muchloved phone box and give it a new lease of life has been absolutely inspirational. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that this lifesaving equipment is available to everyone in the village and we are proud to make this contribution towards the upkeep and maintenance of the defibrillators.”
Four-figure boost for animal charity Hospitals trust to review orthopaedic unit practices after surgery ‘failures’ claim SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk N HS Trust is reviewing practices at its orthopaedic unit following claims of ‘poor outcomes’ from patients who have undergone hip and knee surgery at the trust’s two hospital sites The trust has also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to look into procedures undertaken by the unit. This week, a Southport-based medical negligence firm told the Champion its legal team had reported concerns over the performance of the orthopaedic unit to NHS authorities. The law firm - Fletchers Solicitors in Hoghton Street - claims it has acted after patients approached them suffering complications from knee and hip replacement surgeries at the trust. The trust points out that the claims all relate to orthopaedic procedures conducted between March 2012 and June 2016 and the surgeon involved left the trust in March 2017 Patricia Hitchens, a senior solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors, claims her firm has seen a ‘substantial increase’ in the number of people reporting early complications arising from replacement surgeries and her legal team felt that action needed to be taken’. She confirmed the firm was in discussions with N HS Resolution, which manages claims against the trust. The Champion has previously shared the ordeal suffered by father of seven James Brolly, 60, a HGV driver from Southport, who said that he was left in agony for five years after a surgeon failed to spot a loosened hip replacement. Continued inside
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