TWO fundraising campaigns have been launched at Airedale Hospital.

One is to save a hydrotherapy pool – and the other to create a ‘calm room’.

Major renovation work is needed to the pool, which has been closed until the improvements can be carried out.

Over the years, the facility has played a huge part in treating thousands of patients.

Now the physiotherapy team is aiming to raise around £50,000 so that the pool can be brought back into use and its future secured.

Jo Sainty, physiotherapy professional lead at the hospital, said: “The hydrotherapy pool helps patients with many different conditions – assisting them to regain and improve independence, reduce pain and increase strength and fitness.

“We used it on a daily basis to treat adults and children post-injury or surgery, or for medical management. We will be lost without it.

“We’ll be busy in the therapy teams doing all sorts of challenges to raise the money needed. And we’d love to get our local community’s support.”

People can donate at justgiving.com/campaign/makeasplash, where the progress of the initiative can also be followed.

The second fundraising venture is to create a ‘calm room’ to be used by patients who have received difficult news.

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity is aiming to raise between £10,000 and £15,000.

But it is also appealing to companies for support with donations of items such as soft furnishings, a sofa, artwork and drink-making facilities.

Jenny Tennant, emergency department business administrator with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, is leading on the project.

She said: “The room will really help patients who come for an appointment and may receive some news that they need to absorb and reflect on.

“It’s very important that we can offer calm and caring surroundings.

“Receiving any bad news relating to results, cancer or any life-changing diagnosis can be a real shock and people react in different ways. It can be a very upsetting time and we just want to give them somewhere safe and quiet where they have space to process their emotions. At the moment the room we use is quite clinical so we hope this fundraising will mean we can transform it into a tranquil and comfortable space.”

The outpatients’ team will be staging fundraising events and people can donate at justgiving.com/campaign/airedaleoutpatients.

For further information about how you can help, or to set-up your own fundraising challenge, contact the charity team on 01535 294870 or airedalecharity@anhst.nhs.uk.