Cork hospital secures key kit for sick children through bottle recycling scheme

A hospital has secured crucial equipment for seriously ill children through funds raised by recycling plastic bottles and cans.

The recycling drive was started by three porters at Cork University Hospital and has seen almost €20,000 raised through the recycling of 123,000 plastic bottles and cans.

The three colleagues – all named John – initially started gathering the stray drinking receptacles to cash in on the deposit-return scheme for funds towards a Chinese takeaway at the end of their night shifts.

However, after deciding to hand over the proceeds to the hospital’s fundraising arm, CUH Charity, the initiative spiralled into one the country’s best-supported recycling efforts.

The fundraiser is now being run by colleagues John Collins and John Keenan.

They have spent the last seven months picking up used bottles and cans at the end of their shifts and redeeming them for cash at local shops under the deposit return scheme.

That money has now been used to buy a mobile high-flow oxygen therapy unit for babies and children battling bronchiolitis, pneumonia and asthma.

Mr Collins said he never imagined the fundraiser would become such a success.

He said: “We are overwhelmed that it has enabled the hospital to buy this equipment, or that we would even pass the €10,000 mark.

“We are doing it seven months now, we started on May 3 and the first donation to CUH Charity was €220.

“There is huge support from inside the hospital, we are collecting 12 bags of bottles and cans a day, averaging between 600 and 800 containers.

“And that’s without targeting the entire hospital, we don’t have the manpower to do that, if we did, we’d be up to €30,000.

“We’ll continue this for as long as we can – despite not getting the Chinese takeaway!” 

Consultant paediatrician at CUH, Dr David Mullane, said the high-flow oxygen therapy (Airvo) unit is used to deliver increased and uninterrupted oxygen to infants and children with acute respiratory problems.

Many children receiving it require movement between different areas of the hospital and occasionally, transfer to intensive care.

“To maintain Airvo delivery during transfer in these circumstances, a mobile device with its own external battery or power source is required,” said Dr Mullane.

“This new piece of equipment will provide that and allow seamless transfer while maintaining Airvo delivery.

“This will enable us to deliver the optimum care for patients in respiratory distress.

“We really appreciate our colleagues agreeing to fund this important equipment through their recycling efforts.” CUH Charity executive director, Claire Concannon, said the organisation is indebted to the men for their “tireless work”.

She said: “To think that they have continued this incredible effort in their own time and made such a difference to young patients at the hospital, is a wonderful testament to their character, they deserve all the praise they receive.”