Present frenzy for injured troops at Selly Oak Hospital
Dec 11 2009 by Gregg Evans, Birmingham Mail
SO many presents have been donated to wounded soldiers in Birmingham that Selly Oak Hospital is struggling to cope.
Hospital staff are running out of space to store the gifts which continue to pour into the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine on a daily basis.
Thousands of presents, mostly wrapped, are now stacked up on the ward ahead of the big day.
The generous gift-givers have been praised by hospital officials for their kindness, but have now been asked to support the Afghanistan veterans in different ways.
Ian Cheesman, Officer Commanding Patient Support Services, who is based at Selly Oak Hospital, said they have been overwhelmed with the amount of gifts they have received.
A spokesman for University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has asked generous individuals and organisations to donate in different ways should they wish to support the injured personnel.
“The number of gifts has been absolutely staggering,” he said.
“We are very humbled by this generosity but there are now better ways for people to show their support.
“People can donate directly to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine via UHB Charities.
“All money donated in this way goes into a separate fund for the RCDM to benefit patients.”
On the military wing in Selly Oak the war heroes are treated for life-threatening injuries.
Many of the brave soldiers are left with no option but to have their arms or legs amputated after falling victim to road-side bombs and other attacks in war-torn Afghanistan. This year has been the most productive for Christmas presents since the centre was opened by HRH the Princess Royal in April 2002.
It has been a tragic year for the armed forces though after the death toll in Afghanistan hit the 100 mark, taking the overall total of fatalities to 237.
However for the families, friends and comrades of those killed each death is a personal tragedy with the first every bit as significant as the last. Earlier this week Prince Charles visited the bedsides of more than 30 soldiers who are at Selly Oak Hospital to raise spirits among staff and patients.
Many of those will be housed in the hospital over the Christmas period.
