A £100,000 Christmas fund is being unveilved to help bring seasonal cheer to wards and departments at Southmead and Frenchay hospitals.

Shine together, the charity supporting Frenchay and Southmead Hospitals and community health services, is giving £100,000 to departments, wards and community services across North Bristol NHS Trust to spend on equipment. 

All of the money has been raised by local people and businesses donating to the Shine together fund at the hospital.

Between December 1 and 23 the Shine together Christmas Crackers awards will announce gifts of up to £5,000 on each weekday with a bumper gift of up to £20,000 handed out on December 23. 

Last month staff were asked to put forward applications for the prize fund for the purchase of medical equipment that will support and improve the experience of patients.

A judging panel made up of clinical and non clinical staff from across the Trust considered the 200 applications and have allotted prize money to 34 projects.

The first funds will be awarded on December 1 in a surprise visit to wards by local TV personality Alex Lovell.

Each day in the run up to the big giveaway on December 23, the Shine together website www.shinetogether.org.uk/crackers will announce who that day’s winner is.

Dr Peter Marden, gastroenterologist at Frenchay and Southmead Hospital, and his team have won a total funding of £5,367 to purchase two pieces of equipment that will enable faster treatment and new testing for patients with gastroenterology problems. (see notes to editor)

Dr Marden said: “We are really pleased to be awarded funding for these two devices, both of which will enable us to offer advanced forms of testing to more patients.

“These new tests are easy to use and patient friendly, and better testing means we can diagnose problems quicker and start more effective treatment for patients earlier.”

Shine together’s head of fundraising Trevor Reid said: “Shine together has had yet another fantastic year thanks to the generosity of the public who have donated or taken part in fundraising for us.

“We decided that the best way to spend some of that money was by asking the staff themselves what they think would benefit patients the most.

“Nominations for prize money have had to assure judges that the equipment can be transferred to the new hospital at Southmead when it opens in 2014, so this is a real legacy from Shine together to our hard-working staff.”

You can find out who wins the awards each day by clicking on the Shine together Christmas Crackers Advent calendar on www.shinetogether.org.uk/crackers