London Irish Ward Appeal reaches £700,000 to transform inpatient services at the RNOH

Posted by Sam Bowie on 07 February 2019

A group of leading Irish business people met last week in London to celebrate the opening of the new London Irish Ward at RNOH Stanmore.

The group – who collectively raised £700,000 to cover all the specialist equipment within the 32-bed ward – was led by prominent Irish businessman Tim Kelly, who generously hosted a dinner to thank all the supporters. 

The new ward is part of the state-of-the-art £50 million Stanmore Building, which will be officially opened at the end of March, offering orthopaedic patients access to the very latest medical facilities and treatments. The London Irish Ward Appeal has funded a range of specialist equipment that could not be covered by standard NHS support, plus furnishings, nurses’ stations, staff rooms and clinical areas for the ward.

The London Irish group have been working together since June 2016 to raise the necessary funds. Fundraising activities included a 300-mile cycle ride from Stanmore to Dublin and a pool challenge evening featuring snooker legend Jimmy White. 

The ward will treat patients with a range of complex conditions, including acute hip and knee problems, spinal deformity, and sarcoma, a rare form of cancer requiring highly specialised treatment.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the RNOH, Professor Tim Briggs, the RNOH’s Director of Strategy and External Relations, said:

“The London Irish Ward donation has enabled us to purchase a range of equipment which will significantly improve our patients’ comfort, and the quality of care we are able to offer them. We cannot thank Tim Kelly, the Chairman of the Kelly Group, and the London Irish group enough for their support.”

Rosie Stolarski, chief executive of the RNOH Charity, said:

“We have been working with the London Irish Ward committee since June 2016, and their incredible efforts have exceeded all our expectations. This is an amazing example of a group of dedicated business people giving back to the community, and significantly enhancing NHS care. We are so grateful for their generosity.”

Tim Kelly, chairman of the Kelly Group, said:

“The RNOH is a fantastic institution, and one that is close to the hearts of the London Irish community. Many of us have family who have been treated at the hospital; it has also treated a lot of Irish people over the years.

“When we began our fundraising efforts in 2016, our goal was to raise £480,000 for specialist equipment for all 32 bed spaces on the London Irish Ward. What a thrill it has been to surpass this target by such a long way and reach the fantastic amount of £700,000, which will enable the hospital to fund a range of additional enhancements for the ward’s staff rooms and clinical areas.

“My heartfelt thanks to the London Irish community, whose very generous donations made this appeal so successful, to the committee and to everyone who helped to organise our fantastic fundraising events. Your generous support will have a lasting legacy at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.”