Page 4 - Town & Around - August 2023
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4 Town & Around August 2023                                                         Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
       The QEH is looking forward to a bright future as the NHS turns 75

           ollowing the announcement on 25th May that the Queen   and Ultrasound imaging. These are used for diagnosis and monitoring
           Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH)   of a very wide range of conditions, including cancer, heart disease,
       Fhas been added to its New Hospital Programme and a new   stroke, respiratory diseases, trauma, musculoskeletal diseases,
       hospital will be built on the current hospital site, the demolition of   neurology and, most recently, COVID-19.  To help deliver the scans,
       the Inspire centre to make way for a new multi-storey car park   there will be more staff recruited including radiographers, radiologists
       reported in last month’s magazine, there is more good news for the   and support staff.
       QEH.                                                  The Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity is also kindly
        The hospital will be one of three new diagnostic centres set to be   supporting this project by pledging £1.6m for Imaging equipment.
       built in the region over the next two years meaning people will be   This collaborative approach between hospitals and the wider
       able to have imaging faster and earlier diagnoses. The other centres   Integrated Care System to deliver these services will:
       will be at the James Paget University Hospital and the Norfolk and   • Increase capacity for diagnostic imaging
       Norwich University Hospital.                        • Separate GP referrals and Outpatient appointments from Inpatient
        The facilities, backed by nearly £84 million in government   and Emergency demand, improving waiting times
       investment, will use cutting-edge MRI, CT and X-ray machines to   • Improve health outcomes with earlier diagnoses
       diagnose a range of conditions – including cancer, heart disease and   • Provide modern, bright facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to
       respiratory conditions.                             improve the experience for patients and staff
        Once they’re fully up and running, they will deliver over 281,000   • Standardise practices and collaborative working in Imaging services
       tests, scans and checks to patients in the Norfolk region, speeding up   across the three hospitals
       access to vital diagnoses and ultimately saving more lives.”   The project is in response to a significant increase in demand for
        Chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, said:   imaging and addresses recommendations in a national report from
       “I am delighted to see this investment being used to significantly   eminent Oncologist Professor Sir Mike Richards, who recommended
       increase our imaging capacity adjacent to our hospital sites across   that diagnostic centres should provide imaging capacity outside of the
       Norfolk and Waveney.                                acute hospital building to support patients and healthcare staff in the
        “It’s vital we do all we can to see and treat people as efficiently as   diagnosis of disease and with a view to reducing waiting lists.
       possible; this will no doubt help us to diagnose people more quickly.   The machines and facilities planned for the QEH are 1 MRI, 1 CT,
       We are determined to help people lead longer, healthier and happier   2 Ultrasound and 1 X-ray room. Building work will start this year and
       lives.”                                             the QEH Diagnostic Centre buildings are planned to be operational
        Each of the sites will house MRI and CT scanners as well as X-ray   in Summer 2024.
       Twentieth annual Lions Funday in Hunstanton


              combined effort by the Hunstanton   who provide all the entertainment and   children are loving it and are very excited to
            and District Lions, the businesses at   refreshments free of charge.   be here.”                              Photos: Ian Burt
       ARainbow Park and  Vegas Fish Bar   “I cannot thank Danielle and Joe Rodrigues
       gave children with special needs, their   of Vegas Fish Bar enough for donating all the
       families, carers and teachers a day to cherish.  lunches and John Henry Roper and the
        Friday 23rd June saw coaches arriving in   businesses at Rainbow Park for opening their
       Hunstanton from Churchill Park Academy,   park free of charge for the children to have a
       Little Discoverers and Duke of Lancaster   wonderful day out.”
       Academy for a day out at the fairground
       followed by lunch. In all 227 people, many of
       whom may not have had the opportunity to
       visit without support, were able to have a fun
       day out at the seaside.







                                           As the children were boarding the rides
                                         John Henry Roper said: “It’s a real pleasure
                                         to have all the children back for this joyful
                                         day; we look forward to it every year.”
                                           And Joe Rodrigues said: “It’s all about the
        President of the Lions Jane Scott was at the   kids, I love it.”
       car park early to greet the children as they   Lion Michael Ruston who was President of
       arrived along with the District Governor, Lion   the Hunstanton & District Lions in 2015 and
       Paul Southerton, who signed and presented   is now Mayor of Hunstanton said: “This is a
       special certificates of appreciation and thanks   lovely occasion and it’s great to bring joy to
       to the businesses that had supported the event   young people’s lives.”
       over the past twenty years.         It was clear from the smiles and laughter
        President Lion Jane Scott said: “For me, out   that everyone was enjoying the experience
       of all the things we do, this is the greatest   and Alice Foster, a member of staff from the
       event of the year.                Duke of Lancaster School in Fakenham who
        “We couldn’t do it without the businesses   were attending for the first time said: “The
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