Paralympic Archery Champions Visit Children's Ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

09-May-2012

A group of champion paralympic archers dropped into Safari Ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to visit patients and NHS staff. The archery events will take place directly in front of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the Royal Artillery Barracks this August/September and the visit was part of involving the local community including the hospital and patients in this summer's events.

The visitors included European champion Paul Browne and European silver medallist Kenny Allen.

The staff and patients on the ward were very excited to meet real life athletes who may be taking part this summer at the Paralympic Games.

Carl Shoben, Director of Communications for South London Healthcare NHS Trust said:

"The visit by paralympic archers to the Queen Elizabeth hospital made many of our patients and staff very excited, and was great for morale. We're an Olympics hospital with events on our doorstep and this made it feel very real. One of the athletes had a long conversation with a teenage patient who I saw was very enthused, as she said that a sporting future was her ambition. I would like to thank the team organisers for taking the time out from their busy schedules to visit their local community. “

Further information:

Attached are photos for publication of the Safari Ward team with Paralympic athletes Paul Brown and Kenny Allen, and also a photo of Kenny Allen with Safari Ward staff and 3 year old Oncology patient Amelia Brooks.