New gaming stations help to brighten hospital stays
Young patients at Basildon Hospital can now enjoy gaming from their bedside thanks to two new portable gaming stations, helping make hospital stays a little easier.
The Xbox trollies were made possible thanks to a £3,060 donation from JR Revell Ltd, main sponsor of the Maldon Mud Race. The annual event raised more than £50,000 for local charities.
The gaming trollies will be particularly useful for older children and teenagers. Their portability means gaming can also come to patients who are too unwell to leave their rooms or need to stay isolated because of infection prevention measures.
JR Revell Ltd entered its own team to boost the fundraising total of the annual mud race and chose to support Basildon Hospital because of a personal connection. Its operations manager, Ronnie Baker, has a partner who works on two of the hospital’s children’s wards.
He said:
“Having a personal connection to the children’s wards makes this a cause particularly close to our hearts. When we were given the opportunity to nominate a charity through our involvement with the Maldon Mud Race, supporting the young patients at Basildon Hospital was a natural choice.
“We are delighted that the money raised will help provide entertainment and welcome distractions for children and teenagers during their hospital stay.”
One of the gaming trolleys will be based in the ward’s new teen room, which is being refurbished. The other will move around the children’s wards, giving more patients the chance to play.
Similar trollies have already proved popular at Southend and Broomfield hospitals.
Elise Fleetwood, Senior Partnerships Manager for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said:
“These gaming trollies will make a real difference to children during what can often be a challenging time. Thank you to everyone whose support has benefited our younger patients.
“We're incredibly grateful to the Maldon Mud Race and JR Revell for choosing to support children's services at Basildon Hospital. Donations made through the charity allow us to fund items like this which go above and beyond NHS provision.”
ENDS
Image: The two Xbox trollies being handed over