YORK Hospital’s huge fundraising campaign for the refurbishment of its Stroke Rehabilitation Unit has reached its first milestone.

Work can now begin on installing much-needed ceiling tracking systems on the ward after the STAR Appeal reached £115,000. The tracking system means patients can easily be lifted from their beds without the need for large and heavy hoists.

The hospital’s fundraising manager, Lucy Watson said: “This an important stage of the campaign because it’s one of the most importnant pieces of equipment and we are going to put them all through the ward.

“It’s used to move patients safely in and out of bed. At the moment we use mobile hoists, but they are really big and we don’t have any storage spaces for them. Ceiling tracks are much more sturdy.”

The STAR (Stroke Treatment And Rehabilitation) Appeal was launched in November last year and aims to raise the £300,000 needed for a major overhaul of the unit.

Other plans include the refurbishment of the “halfway house” flat and kitchen area, used to rehabilitate patients before they return home. The kitchen is to be doubled in size and fitted with new units making it more suitable for patients in wheelchairs. The area is used to enable those who have had a stroke to relearn basic skills such as buttering bread.

With work expected to begin on installation of the ceiling tracking in the coming weeks, Miss Watson urged supporters of the appeal to keep the money coming in.

She said: “Thank you to everyone. We have had such a wide range of support it’s hard to thank individuals.

“We really need to keep the support going because we still have such a long way to go.”

For information on the STAR Appeal phone Lucy Watson on 01904 721737 or email lucy.watson@york.nhs.uk

Information can also be found on the appeal section of the hospital’s website at yorkhospitals.nhs.uk