The congregation (sangat) of the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara has donated an incredible £40,400 to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Fund to help medics in the fight against Covid-19.
Bradford Hospitals’ Charity – the charitable arm of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – will use the donation to fund additional equipment for the ICU at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
The money will help fund an additional mobile ultrasound machine, which has specialist probes to help clinicians monitor and treat the most poorly patients in ICU, and two Sara Combilizer rehabilitation chairs, which provide out-of-bed mobilisation to critically ill patients.
Early mobilisation of intensive care patients is believed to have many benefits for recovery.
Ajit Singh Gill, the President of the Gurdwara Management Committee said: “We highly value and respect the work carried out by all the staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals.
“Many of our congregation have and will continue to benefit from the great level of treatment they provide and therefore, within the space of a few days, the congregation have rallied to raise funds to benefit Bradford Teaching Hospitals to provide this life saving equipment.
“I am grateful and thankful to the local community for the great generosity shown in supporting this appeal.”
Karanjeet Kaur, Chair of the Gurdwara Trustees, said: “Our board of trustees supported this work and I am delighted that the Sikh community came together to raise this money. I hope this continues to show that the Sikh faith is one that will always help in times of need.”
Fellow trustee, Balvinder Singh Bains, who also works for the NHS, said: “The local Sikh community and congregation of the Gurdwara considered it their duty to assist the NHS in their fight against this pandemic during these unprecedented times.
“After reaching out to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, they made us aware that this equipment would really enhance the level of treatment the Trust provides both now and in the future.”
Mel Pickup, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara and everyone in its congregation who donated.
“Our critical care staff are highly skilled in treating the most poorly patients in our hospitals. The equipment we can purchase with this donation will enhance the already high quality treatment and care they provide.”
Hayley Collis, Head of Fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara and the Sikh community for choosing to support our hospitals with their kind and generous donation. Thank you to everyone who donated.”
