Hospital launches its community appeal

The £15 million state-of-the-art hospital is due to be completed in October and should be fully operational by the end of November.

And although the hospital will be fully fitted with medical equipment, beds and furniture, hospital supporters want to make it the best they possibly can.

Supporters hope that the appeal, which is being supported by the Wharfedale Observer, will reach its target by the opening date.

Although the hospital will be fully fitted, the equipment, desks, furniture and beds will be transported from the old hospital and the appeal aims to make sure that the new hospital will have sparkling new beds, more equipment and impressive reception desks.

David Marlow, secretary of the Leeds Hospitals Charitable Trustees, said: "Everything that is essential will be provided by the NHS, but when the trust moves into a new hospital we have what is called a level transfer which means all the equipment and furniture will be coming from the old hospital.

"What we are trying to do is put the icing on the cake. We've put together a desirable list and a list that would be a bonus covering three areas, medical and patient and staff areas."

The Trustees already have £110,000 in addition to the £300,000 target including £60,000 from former Otley man Walter Hindle.

Mr Hindle, who was the brother of the late town councillor Norman Hindle, emigrated to Canada as a young man and left money to both the hospital and Prince Henry's Grammar School in his will.

The appeal is being supported by both of the area's MPs, Leeds North West MP Harold Best and Aireborough and Horsforth MP Paul Truswell.

Mr Best said he hoped a special relationship would be built up between the new hospital and the community as had always existed with the old hospital.

"The reason we have the hospital nearing completion is in large part, although not exclusively, as a consequence of the community campaign. I think that is a community which we might appeal to for continuing support for additional elements for the new hospital. I feel it would be an act of adoption by the local community which would amount to it becoming their hospital."

Mr Best added that it was important for the community to 'adopt' the hospital to safeguard its future.

"We need to have an organic relationship between the hospital and the community which will be important for the future health of the whole community."

Mr Truswell said he was supporting the appeal because all of his family at one time had been treated at the Otley hospital.

"Wharfedale is the local hospital for thousands of my constituents. It is also my family's local hospital and I have numerous reasons to be grateful for the care my wife and children have received there.

"Our new hospital is the culmination of decades of campaigning. The community has been fighting for the future of the hospital - and sometimes against its threatened closure - for a long time.

"There has been some very heated debate about where the new hospital should be built, but that is now history. The important thing is that the commitment to rebuild has now been honoured.

"While the NHS will provide a brand new building, serviceable equipment and furniture will be transferred from the existing hospital. While voluntary fundraising cannot be a legitimate substitute for mainstream funding, I support the appeal so that we can make it not just a 'new hospital' but 'our new hospital.

"There are items that we as a community can provide over and above the standard to make our mark on it, and to make it that bit more special."

And Wharfedale general surgeon Hasmukh Shah said he was calling on everyone in the town to give what they could for the appeal.

"We're going to have this wonderful new hospital and now we want people to help us make it the best we possibly can. I would appeal to all those who have been so generous in the past to help again and give some money to the appeal."

l Anyone who would like to help towards the appeal should contact David Marlow on (0113) 392 3640.