Blackpool Victoria Hospital receives gift from Peter |
23rd January 2014 |
| The WM of Thornton Cleveleys Lodge No 7540, Peter Clay, had two very special reasons to pay a visit to Blackpool Victoria Hospital. One reason was to thank one of the hospital’s cardiac advanced practitioners, Sam Kilmurray, for setting him on the road to recovery and the other was to present her with a much needed piece of equipment. This vital instrument was to express his gratitude further for the life changing treatment he received from her and also to help other patients visiting the hospital’s cardiac unit. |
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Pictured, from left to right, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital are Peter Clay, Sam Kilmurray and Kathy Ancell. |
| Peter recently underwent two cardiovascular procedures while in Sam’s care at BVH which required the use of a defibrillator to put his heart into a regular rhythm. During the follow up treatment to monitor his progress Peter discovered that the cardiac unit had only one Roche Coaguchek machine to test the blood of an average of 30 patients daily. As the rate of checking takes around six to eight minutes per patient waiting times can often be quite lengthy. |
| Peter resolved to do what he could to improve the situation and he made an appeal to lodges meeting in the North Fylde Group asking for their help to contribute to a fund to purchase another machine which, including slides, costs in the region of £500. His appeal reached the hearing of Peter Connolly the PrGM of Mark Master Masons and, as a consequence, the charitable arm of the Degree offered to purchase a second machine outright. |
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Sam Kilmurray and Kathy Ancell receive the Roche Coaguchek from Peter Clay and Bob Boal. |
| At a presentation which took place at Cleveleys Masonic Hall Peter received a cheque for the required amount from his distinguished namesake. The PrGM also announced that the Mark Degree would match-fund any amount that the North Fylde Group raised towards the purchase of a third machine. |
| Peter Clay has taken him at his word and he has already received pledges of £300 from Wyre Lodge No 7704 and £25 from Thornton and Cleveleys Lodge No 3854 - with more to come. |
| Peter, together with Bob Boal, publicity officer for Mark lodges which meet in the Fylde, visited the cardiac centre at the hospital and met with Sam Kilmurray and her colleague Kathy Ancell who is head of fundraising for Blue Skies Hospitals to present the machine - which Peter obtained direct from the manufacturer at very favourable terms. |
| Thanking Peter for the gift of the Roche Coaguchek and also asking Bob to convey their gratitude to the Mark Masons of West Lancashire for their support, Kathy said that the new machine would lead to a much improved patient experience at the cardiac unit. Sam added that she would personally see to it that the equipment was put to extremely good use. |
Read the Press release here |
Artice and Photographs courtesy of Bob Boal |
