A WORCESTER dad whose daughter cannot walk or talk decided to raise money to help the hospital that saved her life treat others after witnessing the “great care” she received.

Roger Gallagher said he was delighted to hand over money to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after staff fought to save his daughter Megan.

She was taken to the hospital in Stoke-on-Trent last summer after contracting a severe bout of pneumonia which saw her left lung collapse and her right one run at just 10 per cent. Thankfully the 12-year-old, who has had global developmental delay and epilepsy since birth, survived, leaving dad Roger amazed at the treatment she received.

“Megan was transferred from Worcester to the intensive care unit at North Staffordshire and was there for seven days,” said Mr Gallagher, who lives in Warndon Villages. “Because of the great care she received there I decided to raise some money for the unit.”

The grateful father organised a golf day and placed collection tins at Worcestershire County Council offices, where he works, and the Goodrest Tavern on Barker Street in Worcester.

His efforts helped raise £1,500 for the unit, which was recently presented to staff at the hospital. And Mr Gallagher says he wants to continue the fund-raising.

Donations like his, which go via the University Hospital of North Staffordshire Charitable Trust, go towards providing extra equipment, improving facilities and funding research.

Steve Rushton, charity manager for the trust, said the kindness shown by people like Mr Gallagher makes such a difference at the hospital.

“It goes a long way to making families’ stays here more comfortable,” he said.

The NHS says those with global developmental delay can be late in reaching development milestones and are often behind their peers in areas such as language.

For more information, visit uhnscharity.org.uk.