Cork University Hospital got an emergency delivery of a cuddly kind when a giant teddy and hundreds of smaller teddy bears were delivered by a fire engine to the children treated in CUH. The soft toys were donated to CUH Charity by the Irish Freemasons as part of their TLC (Teddies for Loving Care) appeal.

The adorable teddy bears, which are given to comfort young patients during their time in A&E and the Children’s Unit, were delivered on a vintage fire truck to the Main Entrance of the hospital on November 7th.

Members of the Freemasons were joined by Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Catherine Clancy and Dr Gerry McCarthy, director of the Emergency Department to welcome the magical delivery to CUH.

According to Dr McCarthy the toys provide reassurance, comfort and a distraction for children during procedures which are often distressing and frightening.

“It’s wonderful to have these teddies to give children to keep and take home with them especially as many of these young patients may have been rushed here without their usual comforters.”