FOUR years ago when David and Gloria Leslie visited a family member at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, they came face to face with some of the hospital’s deficiencies. Moved by the obvious need, the couple went back to their home in England and established the Lucea Hospital Organisation (LHO), through which they could assist the health facility in the parish of their birth.

Since then, the LHO has been making annual contributions of supplies to the Noel Holmes Hospital. The latest batch of supplies were donated earlier this month, and included blood pressure machines, digital thermometers, a baby scale and foetal monitor, diabetic machines, sheets, drapes, medical trolleys, stools, and a chair.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, members of the health and civic communities thanked the Leslies for their commitment to helping as the hospital seeks to offer better patient care.

Senior medical officer, Dr Ronald Brown expressed profound thanks to the Leslies for their generous offer.

“(These items) will go a far way in managing our diabetic, hypertensive and high-risk hospital patients, both from a foetal and maternal point of view,” he said. “(They will) also assist in the management and rehabilitation of the patients who have undergone certain types of motor vehicle accidents and patients who have had strokes.”

Describing the LHO’s generosity as invaluable, matron Hazel White-Campbell said the hospital had been operating with very limited resources, but she stressed that this had not prevented them from treating patients in an effective and efficient manner.

According to her, the high level of quality care provided at the facility had been made possible through the help of many charitable organisations and well-wishers, such as the Leslies.

The Noel Holmes Hospital Foundation of Brooklyn has also been a source of much help, and they recently donated a haematology machine to the medical facility.

“Soon, we will be able to offer laboratory services on a small scale,” the matron explained. “A department has been identified to set up this service and personnel trained. Also a haematology machine, donated by the Noel Holmes Hospital Foundation of Brooklyn, is to be cleared from the wharf and installed.”

President of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, Nerissa Hawthorne, who expressed pleasure at the donation of this vital piece of equipment, also had some good news of her own.

According to her, she had received US$1,200 from Shashana Crighton to replace some worn-out doors and she had added £103 that was collected at her sister’s funeral, to this sum. The money will be donated towards the hospital’s generator fund.

And speaking on behalf of Hanover Custos Mavis Whitter King, retired matron Marjorie Thelwell paid tribute to the hospital’s benefactors for their “insight, drive and commitment in aiding not only the hospital, but the very lives of the people it serves”.

She said that over the years, Noel Holmes has benefited from gifts including a modern maternity bed, wheelchairs, walkers and a large amount of sundry items procured by the Leslies.

Human resource director of the Western Regional Health Authority, Arthur Warren; Hanover parish manager, Dorothy Lawrence; member of the Hanover parish health committee, councillor Ralston Hanson and hospital administrator, Keith Davis also expressed appreciation to the Leslies and the other members of their organisation.

But despite the generosity of many, the hospital is still in need of equipment.

“We have not been able to offer X-ray services since 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert devastated the island. The operating theatre has been non-functional for approximately five years,” matron Campbell-White said.

Persons who wish to help are urged to call the hospital at 956-2733.