"We are all working towards a project that will save lives"
The Children’s Hospital Charity are now over halfway to funding a new £6m on-site Helipad at Sheffield Children’s.
The Children’s Hospital Charity are now over halfway to funding a new £6m on-site Helipad at Sheffield Children’s.
One staff member who knows how vital the new facility will be is Joe Lee, who works in Theatres Department at the hospital, ensuring patients receive the very highest standards of care in their operations.
After 12 months of challenges fundraising himself, Joe is sharing the difference it makes in a bid to encourage others to take on a challenge for The Children’s Hospital Charity.
Joe explains: “I wanted to tell you a bit about how your support makes a difference at Sheffield Children’s. Since I first started almost ten years ago, I have seen many of my friends’ children undergo treatment successfully and come out of the other side.
“There is no better feeling in the world than bumping into a patient who remembers you in one of the corridors. I feel very lucky to be able to say I love my job.”
Joe’s work takes him across many of the specialist areas of care at Sheffield Children’s. Always varied, one day can see him working with the Spinal Team to oversee corrective surgery for scoliosis, the next a brain tumour removal in Neurosurgery.
He adds: “You honestly can’t turn a corner without seeing a way the Charity has helped. Whether it’s a state-of-the-art theatre suite, upgraded defibrillators or a recent uplift of the department, donations make a huge difference to Sheffield Children’s.
“As we start the New Year, we are all working towards another Charity project that will save lives, to build a new Helipad for patients who arrive in critical condition after a major trauma.
“Part of my role is also with the Trauma and Crash Team, responding to critically ill patients. The team is made up of doctors and nurses from the Emergency Department, surgeons, anaesthetists, operating department practitioners and paediatric intensive care staff.
“Currently air ambulances can only land in a public park opposite the hospital. This is only usable in daylight hours, which particularly restricts its use during winter months, and cannot be used during public events.
“It is also across from a busy road- the A57- which I have experienced trying to cross with a patient and it does cause further delays. It is the one time you don’t want children waiting for the green man.”
The Children’s Hospital Charity launched an appeal in 2018 to build a new Helipad on the roof of the Emergency Department, ensuring can land and be transferred anytime with flood lighting.
Joe adds: “The Helipad isn’t a small project; it will cost around £6million. Your support helped us win £100,000 through a public vote with Persimmon Homes last year and I took on a series of challenges to help too.
“Fitting it in around my work hours, I completed ten challenges to raise money in my spare time – from taking on marathons to running 40 miles every week and doing 100 press ups every day for the month! I raised more than £2,000 which I was really pleased with.”
Joe is now encouraging others to follow in his footsteps and take on a challenge for Sheffield Children’s in 2022. The Charity hope the fundraising for the Helipad can be completed this year and have been busy making sure there are events for everyone to enjoy.