A hospital's bid to raise funds to provide better care for frail and elderly patients has been hailed by an MP.

Sir Henry Bellingham, Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, has backed Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Excel Appeal, which is supported by the EDP.

The appeal aims to raise £50,000 for specialist equipment, such as falls prevention kits, recliner chairs, and dementia software, which will all improve the hospital's care of the elderly.

Sir Henry said: 'I think it's a fantastic cause.

'Some people will say why is there need to raise funds when the NHS should be providing such a service, but we know the NHS is under increasing pressure and so it will need kind initiatives from the public to help.

'I'm a great believer in the third sector helping to fill that funding gap.'

The largest age group of inpatients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are 71 to 80-year- olds, with 6,172 people in that age group being treated in 2014/15.

The second largest age group is 81 to 90-year-olds (6,053).

It is hoped by providing better equipment, the elderly patients will recover quicker and free up beds for other patients in need.

Sir Henry added: 'This is equipment which could help every elderly patient in the hospital.

'The NHS is never going to do everything that everyone wants it to do, but I do think there is much scope for fundraising like this.'

Sir Henry's comments follow a number of businesses in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk area pledging to support the appeal.

Businesses that have agreed to fundraise for the campaign include Millsopps Estate Agents, various Slimming World groups across the area, Kenneth Bush Solicitors, and chimney sweep company Aflame.

Sponsorship and donation forms are available at www.qehkl.nhs.uk/fundraising

To donate, fill in the coupon (above), or visit www.justgiving.com/qehkl-excelappeal or you can pay by cheque made payable to 'Excel Appeal'. Send it to Laurence Morlaàs, fundraising executive, QEH, Gayton Road, King's Lynn PE30 4ET.

Are you fundraising for the appeal? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk