A MAJOR £20,000 fundraising campaign has swung into operation to fund an extra emergency resuscitation bed in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department of York Hospital.

Hospital bosses say the money will be used to increase the number of beds from two to three to meet demand.

The unit said it has to deal with 2,200 patients each year who required resuscitating, an average of more than six a day.

Local residents and businesses are now being asked to do what they can to help reach the target.

Janine Vermeulen, emergency department consultant, said: “We are hoping to raise funds to match monies promised by the York Trust and Friends of York Hospital to provide better facilities for patients with life-threatening conditions and traumatic injuries.”

The resuscitation room caters for any critically unwell or injured patient who requires immediate life-saving treatment.

Hospital managers said this can be anything from a baby born struggling to breathe, a motorcyclist involved in a head-on collision or an elderly patient in cardiac arrest, often at the same time.

They said a multi-functional room that has the equipment and capacity for three distinct patient treatment areas is urgently needed.

Lucy Lowthian, fundraising manager, said: “We know that demand is going to be increasing so we are doing this to think ahead.

We want to encourage people in the community to fundraise for the campaign.”

If you would like to fundraise for the Refit for Resus project contact Lucy Lowthian, on 01904 721737, or email lucy.lowthian@york.nhs.uk or visit www.york.nhs.uk/fundraising