Donation from Castletown woman is pleasant suprise for heart support group

31st January 2013

Caithness Heart Suport Group found itself on the receiving end of a surprise donation at their latest handover of medical equipment to the county�s hospital.

The group had just presented Caithness General with a new ECG machine when they were asked to accept a �100 gift by one of the nursing staff.

Senior staff nurse Marjorie Moodie explained the donation had come from her mother, Mrs Margaret Sutherland, of Pentland Place, Castletown, a keen supporter of NHS Highland.
Mrs Moodie said: �I had been telling her that the hospital was to receive the ECG machine from the heart support group. She was so impressed by the group�s efforts that she wanted to do something to help.�

Group press officer, Noel Donaldson said: �It was very thoughtful of Mrs Sutherland and she can rest assured that her generous donation will be put to good use. All funds we receive or raise, are spent locally, on equipment for the hospital and the various medical practices throughout the county. Our policy is not to leave our funds languishing in our account but getting them working in the shape of needy equipment which the recipients are unable to fund themselves.�

The ECG machine costing �5000, is the second to be donated to the hospital, by the group and will make the Bignold Wing independent from having to borrow the one presented previously, to the A and E department.�

At the presentation ceremony, Mrs Moodie expressed the hospital�s appreciation of the heart support group for the �fantastic� machine which she said would benefit �so many people� in the years to come.

As well as fundraising, the group also acts as a forum for people with heart conditions before and after their operations.

PHOTO
STAFF at Caithness General Hospital take charge of an ECG machine donated by Caithness Heart Support Group. Pictured from the left is group chairman Ernie Ross, senior staff nurse Marjorie Moodie, group members John Henderson, Marjorie Donaldson, Joyce Macdonald, Janette Sinclair, Robin More, auxiliary nurse Thea Coghill and NHS area manager Bob Silverwood; front left is group member Janice Henderson and extreme right, Pauline Craw, Rural General Hospital Manager.