Whipps Cross University Hospital

28th May 2009

The newly elected Mayor, Councillor Anna Mbachu, has backed The Big Push appeal for Whipps Cross Maternity Unit by announcing it will be her chosen charity for the year.

The campaign has also attracted celebrity support from Rita Simons, actress from Britain’s Best Soap 2009 as well as Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson and Fame Academy’s Kevin Adams joining forces to give a “big push” to the new maternity appeal.

Cllr Mbachu, who represents the Leyton ward of Grove Green, replaces Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor as Mayor for Waltham Forest and has Whipps Cross close to her heart as part of her support for the local community.

Cllr Mbachu said: “I am looking forward to meeting people from all backgrounds and walks of life, part of the one community that is Waltham Forest. 

“As well as supporting the Big Push, I aim to raise money for the hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit where my child was treated and received first class care.”

The appeal, officially launched on 7th May with a star studded tea party for local mums and babies born at Whipps, aims to raise £350,000 for equipment and improvements to the maternity unit. The increasingly busy unit was built for 2,500 deliveries a year but last year delivered 5,200 babies and has an aging estate that it is in need of upgrading.

Together with a £3 million NHS grant, The Big Push will deliver improvements to benefit more than 5,000 families who will use the Whipps Cross maternity services this year. That's 100 families a week who will benefit from improved spaces and state of the art equipment.

Elizabeth Goshawk, Senior Fundraising Manager said: ”We are delighted to be the Mayor’s chosen charity and I’m looking forward to working with Cllr Mbachu to fundraise for The Big Push.

“It’s a cause that’s close to many people’s hearts so I’m sure the community will really rally round to support the hospital.”

If you would like to donate please visit: www.whippsx.nhs.uk/thebigpush or contact Elizabeth Goshawk, Senior Fundraising Manager on 0208 535 6818 or fundraising@whippsx.nhs.uk for more information.

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Notes to Editor

• Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust is an acute Trust providing care to the local population of Waltham Forest, west Redbridge, Essex and east London.
• We provide a comprehensive range of acute healthcare services, responding to both emergencies and planned operations.
• The Trust has education, training and research roles as well as providing a number of 'shared services' to other NHS Trusts.
• The Trust is also working together with other NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts in outer North East London on an affordable programme of reconfiguration of health services and facilities, known as Fit for the Future.