FUNDRAISING is ongoing in support of Trafford General Hospital after it was struck by lightning last week.
A blaze consumed the hospital's roof after the lightning strike last Wednesday, with firefighters working through the afternoon and into the evening to tackle it.
Trafford General Hospital Charity, part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Charity, said a large section of the roof was 'very badly damaged'.
It set up a page on JustGiving the following day in response to the outpouring of support from the community, although the cost of repairing the damage has been covered already.
The charity's director, Millie Stacey, said: "We know Trafford General Hospital is at the heart of the Trafford community, so we were touched, but not at all surprised, when some amazing people asked how to support the hospital at this time.
"The wonderful team at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust are rising to the challenge and meeting the needs of patients, as well as ensuring repair work is underway.
"However, we wanted to give an outlet to those people who asked how to support the hospital. We set up the 'We Love Trafford Hospital' page to allow people to do this.
"All funds raised will go to wherever the need is greatest at the hospital, funding projects to enrich and enhance the experience of patients and their families," she added.
She went on to thank the community for its support up until now.
The page on JustGiving is on around £530 at the time of writing.
On the night of the fire, a station manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) shared photos of the damage on social media, praising the firefighters for stopping the blaze before it spread to other areas in the hospital.
He tweeted: "Absolute phenomenal effort from all attending GMFRS personnel and partners at Trafford General Hospital. A fantastic stop in the roof preventing further damage."
Despite the work of the firefighters, more than 60 patients had to be evacuated, and the Minor Injuries Unit and outpatients department were closed for the rest of the day.
However, all services were up and running by the end of last week.
To donate to the 'We Love Trafford Hospital' page on JustGiving, visit justgiving.com/campaign/welovetraffordhospital.
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