Teddies just the tonic
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| TEDDY COMFORT: Peter Jones of Bolton and Farnworth Freemasons with Codie Martin, aged four, and ward sister Sarah Greenhalgh |
IF you go down to the children's accident and emergency ward you will certainly be in for a big surprise.
Every youngster attending the children's casualty department will be given a free teddy bear as soon as they arrive at the hospital.
The scheme is being funded by the Bolton and Farnworth Freemasons, who hope the teddies will make attending hospital less frightening for children.
Four-year-old Codie Martin, from Farnworth, was the first youngster to be given a teddy when she visited the hospital with her mum, Linda.
She said: "I love the bear. It's my new favourite teddy, but I'm not sure what I'm going to call him yet. I feel a lot better now I have something to cuddle."
The Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) scheme was started by about 30 Freemason lodges across Bolton, raising money to fund the project by selling lapel badges.
Peter Faulkner, the deputy chairman of the Bolton and Farnworth Freemasons, said: "We hope these teddies will be a great comfort to the youngsters attending the children's accident and emergency.
"It can be something they can cuddle if they are anxious about what is happening to them as hospitals can be frightening places to children, especially if they don't understand what's happening to them."
The children's accident and emergency unit was opened in October to keep youngsters away from drunk and abusive patients. Warren Millington, accident and emergency's modern matron, said: "Coming to hospital can be a daunting experience for youngsters, so having a teddy to cheer them up is a wonderful idea. We're very grateful to the Freemasons for this generous donation."
Since the children's casualty unit was opened it has been forced to close four times because of staff shortages, forcing young people into the main accident and emergency department.
10:49am Tuesday 18th December 2007
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Posted by: gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton on 11:14am Tue 18 Dec 07
Just be careful what you name them.
Just be careful what you name them.
Posted by: chas, suffolk on 11:41am Tue 18 Dec 07
Don't name any **** otherwise you'll upset radio one.
Don't name any **** otherwise you'll upset radio one.
Posted by: Lollipop, Muddy Duct on 5:31pm Tue 18 Dec 07
[quote][bold]chas[/bold] wrote:
Don't name any **** otherwise you'll upset radio one.[/quote] Radio 1 have only done that so that people go out and buy the song to stop the x factor geezer getting to number 1. Remember when they ban that Cliff Richard song a few years ago, think it made the xmas no 1 that year.
chas wrote:
Don't name any **** otherwise you'll upset radio one.
Radio 1 have only done that so that people go out and buy the song to stop the x factor geezer getting to number 1. Remember when they ban that Cliff Richard song a few years ago, think it made the xmas no 1 that year.
Posted by: tom3465, farnworth on 5:40pm Tue 18 Dec 07
call the first one Moe the second Hamm the third Hed sell them on ebay for a profit.
call the first one Moe the second Hamm the third Hed sell them on ebay for a profit.
Posted by: tom3465, farnworth on 5:44pm Tue 18 Dec 07
judging whats happening on the streets at the minute that a+e will have more drunks than yates on a saturday night.
judging whats happening on the streets at the minute that a+e will have more drunks than yates on a saturday night.
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