Lifestyle: Magic Fund

ONE of the team who treated Laura is putting himself through a gruelling Ironman triathlon to raise funds for patient care.

Dr Joseph Cosgrove, consultant in anaesthesia and critical care, on the ward where Laura was treated, is running an Ironman triathlon in Ireland on September 1 in aid of the MAGIC, Monitoring Appeal for General Intensive Care, fund.

The specialised ward covers the North England from the Scottish Border down to Leeds who have had major surgery including operations for cancers of the liver and pancreas, operations for major bladder cancer, spinal abnormalities, bone cancers, cancers of the ear, nose and throat and patients undergoing kidney and liver transplants.

The triathlon involves a 1,900m sea swim, a 52-mile cycle ride and a half-marathon.

Other doctors and friends, including Mr Jeremy French, 35, a liver specialist at the Freeman Hospital, are taking part in sections of the marathon but Dr Cosgrove is the only one doing all three events.

Mr French says: “The swimming part of the triathlon is in open sea as well so it really is a brave undertaking. The fund is of huge importance to the hospital.”

Dr Cosgrove adds: “The fund buys equipment for the care of critically ill patients that the Trust is either unable to purchase or only purchase in part.

“This equipment allows for improved care and increased ability to monitor unstable patients.

“They help us to offer higher standards of care to more patients.

“The fund is also used to buy comfort items for patients and relatives. Admission to intensive care is a stressful time for these people and the technological environment can often add to the stress levels.

“Many patients who are recovering from the effects of critical illness remain too weak to be discharged to a ward setting and items such as CD players etc can enhance both their physical and psychological recovery.”

The fund now also gives an important role in training staff.

Dr Cosgrove added: “It helps with the education of junior medical and nursing staff to make sure senior staff maintain continuing professional development. Junior doctors’ training is changing and with reduced hours in the workplace there is an imperative for trainers such as myself to develop effective in-service training as they will not go through the longevity of an ‘apprentice-type’ training scheme that my generation of hospital doctor faced.”

To donate money to the Magic fund send cheques to: The Anaesthetic Secretaries, Room 27, Level One, The Anaesthetic Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, NE7 7DN.

(c) 2007 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.