Chichester hospital surgeon chops mop to raise £1,700 for charity

A consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues.
Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141938001Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141938001
Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141938001

Miguel Oliveira, who lives in Church Lane, Barnham, set an initial target of £500 but soared past that to raise nearly £2,000 for Love Your Hospital, the dedicated charity for Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Miguel, 50, who has worked at St Richard’s Hospital for more than 10 years, and within the NHS for 25 years, said: “In the last few months, the orthopaedic team has really come together as a department and it seems a little bit like having my hair cut off symbolises putting this time behind us.

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“I had grown quite attached to my hair and people were telling me to keep it. I joked about setting up another fundraiser to save my hair from the chop.”

Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141926001Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141926001
Miguel Oliveira, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Richard’s Hospital, has shaved off his lockdown hair, raising more than £1,700 for a local NHS charity, in aid of his colleagues SUS-200708-141926001

The shave took place at St Richard’s Hospital last Friday (August 31), watched by Miguel’s colleagues and with local salon owner, Emily Henshaw from Embellish Hair in Sidlesham,

Emily said: “I’m actually a former patient of Miguel’s and was under his care when I came into A&E with restricted blood flow to my hand.

“As a hairdresser, my hands are my livelihood and his advice meant I avoided having a major operation which would have seen me out of work for many weeks.

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“Miguel is a super guy and I’ve been very honoured to help him with his fundraising.”

Miguel has also set up a Facebook page to promote his head shave, where he has been sharing stories about some of the ‘unsung heroes’ he has met while working for the NHS in West Sussex.

David Clayton-Evans, head of Love Your Hospital said: “It’s so inspiring to see a member of staff, who has already gone above and beyond for patients during the COVID19 pandemic, go that step further to raise funds in support of colleagues.

“The response to our Hospital Heroes COVID-19 Appeal has been amazing and this will really help us to provide a long lasting legacy to benefit staff in the future in the form of new staff spaces and facilities.”

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Throughout his campaign, Miguel received messages of support from actors Hugh Bonneville and Timothy Christopher and celebrity gardener, Alan Titmarsh.

“COVID has been a very difficult time for everybody, but we got through the worst of it together,” Miguel said.

“This event gives me an opportunity to be grateful for that and to recognise in a tiny way the sacrifices that everybody else has made during this time.

“Hopefully, this will provide some support for other members of staff that might need it and all of this benefits our patients who are at the heart of everything we do.”

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