Critical Care

Thanks to the support of our communities, we can fund the extras which make a big difference to the patients, their families and the staff who are treating critically ill patients.

We work very closely with the teams at each Critical Care Unit to ensure that donations to the Critical Care Fund are used in a number of ways, including to:

Fund medical research

Provide specialist equipment at the cutting edge of technology
Improve treatment facilities
Support staff development
Create a healing environment to promote wellbeing in clinical spaces

At a time which can be extremely distressing for patients and their families, we aim to help make their experience a little easier, funding items that fall outside of the government NHS budget.

£96,000

spent on projects in 2024/2025

Introducing the

Three Wishes Project

The 3 Wishes project began in Canada in 2013 and has been adopted across the world. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is the first UK Trust to introduce this project, and we hope it will bring comfort to our patients and their families: sharing kindness and compassion at the end of someone’s life when, despite everyone’s best efforts, it has not been possible to save a their life. Teams will work with patients and loved ones to honour and celebrate them as an individual and to fulfill their wishes as they approach the end of their life. The project gives patients the chance to reflect on their lives, and to identify what matters most to them. It allows families to spend precious time with their loved one, creating meaningful moments in those last hours and days. Each ‘wish’ is a simple, personalised request reflecting a patient’s passion or need as they approach the end of their life. The 3 Wishes project is funded entirely by donations to East Kent Hospitals Charity.

Donate

My husband was rushed to hospital after a heart attack. The doctor explained to myself and two adult children about the 3 Wishes Project. This resulted in the very end of life care, with him being moved to the garden and being supported by lots of wonderful staff. We played one of his favourite pieces of music. It was devastating but nice way to say goodbye. Emotions were running high. We were also offered three key rings with his thumb print. My son uses his and my daughter uses hers as a necklace. I feel the project offers so much comfort in a very very sad time. Thank you.

At a point in our family's life during the darkest moments of our son passing suddenly, we felt warmth and a glimmer of light from the 3 Wishes Project team, who offered support to both my wife and two siblings. The casting of hands clasping and hand/finger prints immortalised in plaster cast, provided us with being able to hold on to someone special for the rest of time. This scheme should definitely be shared across the nation to help others come to terms with their loss too. We will all treasure the assistance, support and valuable service freely given by the 3 Wishes team and we send our gratitude and very best wishes for simply caring, sharing and helping us cope.

After my dear husband passed, I was given my little knitted heart and the nurse put one in my husband’s hand, which was still there when I saw him at the undertakers. That was something very beautiful. I still have mine on the pillow next to my bed where my husband slept - it makes me feel he is with me. It is all the little things that made his passing more bearable - the key rings, the cast of his hand, and the beautiful picture with the broken heart. They are all treasured and they sit next to his picture. Thank you all so much for the wonderful care received and all the special extra bits.