LETTER: Magnificent seventh ball

Named after the surgical robot, now well established at the District General Hospital, this was the seventh ball held by the two organisations.

The robot – the only one in Sussex – has now been in use at the DGH for 13 months, with more than 150 patients benefitting. It is enabling surgeons to perform major surgery, particularly for prostate and bladder cancer, with greater precision, less bleeding and discomfort, and much earlier discharge from hospital, usually the following day. It is transforming the DGH into the major centre for such surgery.

The Friends and the Rotary Club are very grateful to their major sponsors – etc magazine and the Eastbourne Herald, and W Brufords jewellers, together with platinum sponsors Stephen Rimmer and Co, and gold sponsors Gaby Hardwicke and Warrens Law and Advocacy for their generosity, and the valuable support of A Creative Instinct and Party Enterprises. Ed Giddins, former Sussex and England cricketer together with his team of ladies, was a fantastic MC and auctioneer.

We were also very grateful for the many items put up for the raffle, and both the live and silent auctions. This, coupled with the generosity of the 390 guests, made this the most successful of the balls, raising a fantastic £31,000, enabling the Friends to complete the lease purchase of the £1 million robot nine months earlier than had been planned. A brilliant result which allows the Friends to move forward to their next major project – the purchase of a second CT machine which will enhance the service at the DGH and, in particular, for the Stroke Unit (now one of the biggest in the country). Thank you very much. Your assistance means so much to us and to the staff and patients at the District General Hospital.

Dr Peter Nash

President FoEH

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