Starship Children’s Hospital is thrilled to have
received a remarkable $6.5 million donation from Graeme and
Robyn Hart to the Starship Foundation, to support the
hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) expansion
project at Te Toka Tumai Auckland.
This is one of the
largest single private donations to Starship since the
hospital opened.
Alongside the government’s
contribution of $25 million towards the expansion project,
the Starship Foundation pledged an additional $23 million to
help make the facilities world-class.
The Hart
family’s generosity has helped the Foundation almost reach
its target, together with support from individual New
Zealanders, businesses and community groups throughout the
motu.
The family has been long-term supporters of
Starship, including Gretchen Hawkesby’s work on the
Starship Foundation Board for over 12 years, and through
donations to hospital and healthcare improvements.
The
latest donation will contribute to funding state-of-the-art
spaces and equipment, more comfortable and nurturing
environments for whānau, and supporting the education and
training of highly specialised staff.
Te Whatu Ora
Interim Lead Hospital and Specialist Services for Te Toka
Tumai Auckland, Dr Mike Shepherd says: “We are so grateful
to Graeme, Robyn and Gretchen for their extraordinary
generosity and support over the years. The family’s
donation will improve the lives of countless children and
their whānau, and will help us provide world-class
treatment, care and facilities for the very sickest of our
nation’s children.”
Te Whatu Ora Director of
Starship Services Dr John Beca says: “Starship’s PICU is
a national service for the most seriously unwell children
from across Aotearoa, however the expansion project will
transform many services in Starship. It also includes
improved spaces for the whānau of PICU patients, an upgrade
of public spaces for all whānau, a Medical Day Stay Unit
and enhanced staff spaces.”
Prior to COVID-19, PICU
had 22 beds and was frequently at capacity. The expansion
will meet the current and future needs of the
hospital.
“As we grow our specialist Starship PICU
team, the additional 10 PICU beds means we can care for more
children who become critically ill or need support after
major surgery such as heart, spine and transplant
surgery,” John says.
“This donation should be
celebrated across all of New Zealand – thank you so much to
the Hart family.”
Fundraising is ongoing for this
multi-year redevelopment project. To help complete the PICU
expansion project, New Zealanders can donate
to Starship online or by contacting the Starship
Foundation directly. Starship Foundation increased its
original funding goal to $23 million to help cover design
improvements and construction cost
increases.
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