On 1 February, the Charities Committee took Assembly, using the opportunity to tell the school community more about the 'Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals’ charity which pupils have voted to support this term. Maddy Greenly and Daisy Doak hosted, introducing guest speaker Lynn Crombie, from the Norfolk and Norwich, who spoke a little more about the charity and what they do. Here is what Lynn shared with us: 

"Last year, almost £2.5m was donated to support our patients and staff across all areas of the N&N – a hospital which has touched the lives of almost every one of us. Maybe you were born there, or treated there. Or visited a family member or friend.

I was going to tell you about what the hospital means to me… but I thought it better to tell you some of the stories told to me every day about what the hospital charity means to our patients and their families.

What it means to the breast cancer patients. In the past, you came in for a diagnosis but some patients were then asked to go home and return a few weeks later for more tests and a treatment plan. Scared. Worried… and waiting.

Not any longer. The charity created the Boudicca breast cancer appeal which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for a new unit with state-of-the-art equipment. Now patients get their diagnosis and all the tests they need on the same day, you leave with your treatment plan. Cancer is still scary, it’s still difficult, but we’re doing everything we can to minimise the wait and the worry.

I can tell you what it means for our young cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Imagine having to stay for hours at a time in your room or on a ward.  Thanks to donations we’ve bought mobile chemotherapy pumps to allow patients to move around, to go outside, to go for a walk with their friends and family without interrupting their treatment.

I can tell you what it means to some of our ovarian and bowel cancer patients facing few treatment options. Our surgeons told us about a piece of for equipment which offers real hope for some patients. Thanks to donations, the N&N became the first hospital in the UK to use a heated chemotherapy HIPEC machine – giving advanced cancer patients at least another 12 months of life, and often longer. A year may not sound long, but imagine if it’s your family member or your friend… every day matters.

I can tell you what it means to children coming for day treatment or visiting someone at the N&N. They can be anxious and scared. The charity was able to build a playground, complete with play equipment in the centre of the hospital, where children can spend time and relax for a while – and we know how play improves health and can speed recovery.

I can tell you what it means for the families of patients receiving end-of-life care who are sadly not going to go home. Donations have paid for fold-away beds allowing family members to stay with their loved ones in their final hours and days, time they tell us they are forever grateful for.

Huge advances in medical technology mean hospitals and clinicians can do so much more but it’s only as a result of donations that we are able to support them.

And here’s the great thing, the almost £2.5m donated last year came from cake sales, sponsored walks, bike rides, non-uniform days, head shaves and fundraising balls and many more weird and wonderful events by people like you for our patients… the patients who are all of us… our families, our friends, our teachers, our colleagues and our communities across Norfolk.

So thank you on behalf of everyone at the N&N for choosing to support our charity."