YORK hospital chiefs have thanked local people for their generosity, after public goodwill brought a £310,000 cash boost.

The money has come in to the charitable funds of the York Health Trust, which runs York District Hospital, during the last six months.

Donations, fundraising and appeals brought in a total of £207,000, and legacies received came to almost £103,000.

The income provided the trust with extra cash to improve services and buy new equipment, which otherwise would not have been possible.

During the last six months some of the developments funded by charitable donations included:

£15,000 spent in the coronary care unit to buy a high specification defibrillator, a machine which allows the service to be taken to patients wherever they are in the hospital, and has other functions such as blood pressure monitoring and a 12-lead ECG facility; £5,400 used to fund a skilled trainer and airway trainer for the intensive care unit; £19,000 from children's charitable trust funds used to buy five of the very latest neo-natal monitors for the special care baby unit, machines which are used constantly to monitor the condition of vulnerable babies; £12,500 from the proceeds of the Lord Mayor's Millennium Ball for a day view laser imager for the breast screening unit; £10,000 being spent on new carpets, which has greatly improved patient areas at the Peppermint Court and Cherry Tree House community rehabilitation units; and over £3,000 used to purchase three hydro tilt chairs to improve patient amenities at Acomb Gables community rehabilitation unit for the elderly.

In addition 42 "in memory" donations have been received by the trust, totalling £20,735.

Trust deputy chief executive George Wood said: "We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in fundraising activities and those who have generously donated monies to the trust to enhance our services.

"Without this support the trust would not be able to make these improvements."

A leaflet with information about the charitable fund can be obtained from Eric Johnston, Chief Executive's Office, York Health Services NHS Trust, Bootham Park, York YO3 7BY.

Updated: 09:37 Wednesday, December 05, 2001