Supermarket customers back hospital

Ahead of young patients moving in next month, retail giant Woolworths and its local customers have made a donation to help with some finishing touches to Broome Regional Hospital’s brand new paediatric ward.

Last year Woolworths Broome raised $17,500 through raffles, events and collection of donations, which its staff presented to the hospital last week.

Broome Regional Hospital operations manager Kim Darby said it was a generous donation which would allow the WA Country Health Service to buy some extras for the children’s ward, that might have fallen off the capital expenditure budget.

“We are very appreciative of the work Woolworths and Broome have done,” he said.

“This unit had been housed in a dreadful old transportable which was totally unsuitable, and we were fortunate (development of the) mental health unit came through, and we were able to delay it to also get money for the paediatric unit to be built as well.

“We have some very good capital programs but there are always things that fall outside – and dollars like this help, for example, with our enhanced entertainment systems we have the hardware, but we’ll be able to get software for them.”

Woolworths Broome store manager Debbie Huxley said 2011 was the first year the store had supported the hospital, but staff and customers had shown such enthusiasm that she expected 2012 would be even better – especially as more people understood what funds would be directed toward.

“This year we hope to raise over $25,000,” she said.

“It’s better for everyone when you know your donation is going to something special.”

Woolworths will continue its Fresh Food Kids Hospital Appeal with a 1980s-themed party at the Broome Fishing Club on Saturday, May 26.

Ten-collar tickets can be ordered from Fran on 0439 343 430.

Children are welcome, with those less than 15 years free.