Mate, there are people hurting almost every place you look! Meanwhile, many old Greybeards are "on the beach" in the ***** UK, unable to get decent work. All it needs is someone with some gumption to marry the two together. I don't have that nous, but I'm one of the Greybeards. If anyone can help put it all together, then we're ready once again to pick up the tools!

I can only ask around mate! As you know there is a lot going on here!

Eddie

First of all I would like to express my gratitude to the hospitals who have recently so generously donated used equipment to those in need. Both desire to remain anonymous, but you know who you are! Thanks again.

But the work goes on! We are now getting a bit more organized on the transport side of things (all trucks, vans and artics are donated by friendly companies, by the way), and so anyone with equipment to donate to those in need overseas by way of UK medical charity groups ... please get in touch. We will take it all (that is, not just "cherry pick").

Meanwhile, I have a nice Rank Stanley Cox Sonacel Multiphon Mk II (yes, what a mouthful) ultrasound therapy unit. But, alas, without its transducer and cable ... so if anyone can help? And we're also on the look out for a Sony printer (UP-890-MD or near equivalent) to complete an ultrasound system soon to be on its way to Kashmir.

Lastly, we are also happy to collect boxes of used mains cables, "popular" equipment batteries (in the hope that they can be brought back to life), ECG cables, SpO2 cables and "probes" (ultrasound etc.) of all types. Sometimes such stuff can be repaired, or at least used as a sample. So please don’t bin them, but toss them in a box for collection when someone is passing by. As usual, the same goes for manuals, test equipment, spare parts, tools and anything else you no longer have need of. At this end, nothing goes to waste, even total junk gets stripped down for bits, metal gets scrapped (and monies ploughed back into the charity), and anything remaining gets binned in accordance with local regulations!

Hi Geoff,

That campaign is very good,some of you who have visited hospitals in the developing world, its very difficult here especially in Africa for example some hosptals here even a stethoscope for nurses even doctors, a B.P machine do luk???theatres are still using EMO anaesthesia apparatus, so guys if charities in UK help in such to the needy ones its very important.

Roman

Yes Roman, some of the hospitals I am aware of (who have been helped) have been pretty basic, believe me (perhaps grim would be a better word). But if you know of any hospital in such dire need, please encourage them to get their "wish list" sent in to either of the first two links that I gave above (or, if the assistance required is of a technical nature, get a message to me), and I should imagine that someone will be able to help.

If people here don't know about the problems, then they can't help. As you may have already gathered, there are "surpluses" of medical equipment and supplies generated in the UK, and hospitals here are often glad to pass stuff on if they feel that it is being put to good use.

That's how these groups operate:- the hospital (or clinic etc.) "out there" draws up a list of what they need. The items are then found (often from "stock") at this end, and shipped. Shipping and transport arrangements vary from location to location. Some groups require a "contribution" from the receiving hospital (something nominal, really just to foster a "pride of ownership" attitude towards the stuff being supplied). Technical requests (parts, etc.) get passed to people like me, who then struggle to do our best to assist!

On the scrounge again (sorry) ... if anyone has a stash of Sony UPC-2010 "Colour Print Packs" that have become surplus to requirements ... well, we would be happy to bung them on the next container out to Kashmir! Cheers.

Geoff I've got a couple of out of date ones (still sealed) but they will have the old problem that the paper bows with age then causes jams (unless somebody out there knows a way around this problem).

Lee

Thanks for that, Mate. Sounds like I need to call in the next time I'm down your way. "Bows with age" sounds a bit like me! But, perhaps we'll try placing the photo paper under weights for a while in a humid environment (might even work for me, too)!

Meanwhile, what's the policy at Hereford about donating kit for overseas? Or, put another way, how big a van (truck) do I need to bring?

Hi Geoff

At Hereford we have a link with a Hospital in Tanzania and virtually anything that is worth having goes there.

If you send me an address I will happily post these printing packs to you.

That's good (about Tanzania). Here is the address (please ignore the poor spelling)! Cheers, Geoff.

PS: but you won't escape that lightly ... I may well still call in!