Virtually everyone who lives in Colchester and north east Essex will have had first-hand experience of services provided by Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust. Many will have experienced the happiest or saddest days of their lives here. However, fewer are aware of the contribution made to the hospitals by Colchester Hospitals Charity (CoHoC).

Since Essex County Hospital was founded in 1820, hospitals in Colchester have been supported by the kindness of the people of north east Essex. CoHoC continues to co-ordinate and develop the support of the community. Our aim is to enhance and improve patient care by providing grants for projects and services that are over and above those funded by the NHS.

The Charity helps to buy extra medical equipment. For example, charitable funds were used in 2009 to buy a heart scanner exclusively for the use of children and babies at Colchester General Hospital. Previously, equipment had been shared with adult patients or babies might be sent to London for tests. The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Colchester General Hospital cares for more than 500 babies a year who are born either prematurely – as early as 29 weeks – or who need specialised care after delivery. The Children's heart scanner is just one example of the added value that the Charity can make to the care of patients but, of course, it's not only about the equipment. As one parent said: "Although it was a horrible time for us with regards to the health of Jack, the staff on SCBU were some of the kindest people I have ever met."

Improvements to the environment of the Trust's hospitals have also been paid for from charitable funds. For example, CoHoC funded new chairs and tea-making facilities for patients attending weekly clinics at Essex County Hospital. People with long-term conditions often visit the hospital several times a year over many years. Making waiting and treatment areas more comfortable is one of the positive ways the Charity can help.

There are always pieces of equipment or projects that dedicated staff across the hospitals want to buy to improve the care they can give to their patients. For example, the Breast Surgery Fund raised money to buy a digital mammography machine that will make diagnosis quicker and less invasive and one department is currently saving up to buy a bladder scanner – a scan can mean the difference between keeping a patient in overnight or being able to send them home.