NRS Healthcare and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has donated paediatric equipment to children in Moldova.

The Trust linked up with ChildAid, a charity which aims to transform the lives of vulnerable, abandoned and disabled children in Eastern Europe, to assess the suitability of equipment.

Theresa Warner-Jones, the Clinical Occupational Therapist for Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We regularly try to donate equipment to charities, and I was delighted to be able to donate all sorts of items and equipment, that otherwise would have been scrapped here. The items were donated in October last year and I’d like to thank Paddy Gibbs, Warehouse Manager, Sarah Rodgers, Occupational Therapy Assistant and the team at NRS Healthcare in West Sussex, who were integral in getting the equipment loaded onto the van and also coordinated the collection.”

The equipment was donated to different settings including hospitals and to families who attend the Tony Hawks centre in Moldova and have been given to children with additional physical needs, enabling them to fulfil their potential and participate in activities of daily living as well as improve their physical ability.

Martin Wilcox, ChildAid Director, said:

“We simply cannot thank Sussex Community NHS Trust enough for offering the equipment they no longer required. We were taken aback by the quality and quantity. Moldova’s average wages are under £450 per month. For families with children living with disabilities, mobility and healthcare equipment can be but a dream. You have made dreams come true. The arrival of the equipment brought such happiness to the amazing team at the Tony Hawks Centre as every piece of equipment was seen as being essential. Every parent who received equipment could not express their thanks enough – many tears were shed over the 2 whole days it took to distribute the equipment. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

The charity was delighted to be able to share photos of the equipment being used.