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The “Friends of the Friarage” charity, renowned for raising over £5 million for the Northallerton hospital, is now initiating the Eye Appeal fund. The goal is to acquire advanced surgical equipment for the forthcoming £35 million Surgical Hub at the Friarage, which is slated to open next year. Patients will thus be able to receive vitreo-retinal (VR) treatment locally in Northallerton, eliminating the need to commute to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for the same.
During the appeal launch last Wednesday, consultants James Dunbar and Ahmed Saad spoke about the recent transformative progress at the Friarage and the benefits of localized treatment for eye patients. Mr. Saad highlighted several instances of Hambleton residents for whom local treatment would be a boon, including a patient with Type 1 diabetes who had to make 54 trips to James Cook in five years.
Mr. Saad pointed out that patients often face transportation issues, as the treatments or surgeries restrict them from driving. Furthermore, some treatments require patients to maintain uncomfortable postures for hours, making lengthy trips impractical.
During his seven-year tenure at James Cook, serving the last two years at the Friarage, Mr. Saad recognized the importance of geographical proximity to the patients. A considerable 30% of his patients at James Cook are from the Hambleton and Richmondshire region, he informed the audience.
Answering queries on why the NHS cannot fund such equipment, Susan Watson, co-chair of the Friends of the Friarage, clarified that their role is apolitical. Their primary mission is to generate funds for the Friarage for services that the NHS cannot deliver.
The appeal has got off to an optimistic beginning, with the Friends of the Friarage’s shop contributing £20,000 and the Northallerton Rotary Club donating an additional £1,100. The charity is now seeking public involvement through the organization of fundraisers or sponsorship for personal challenges, with assurances of support for these endeavors.
