A prominent town estate agent has thrown its weight behind a hospital appeal for fundraising to improve its care of elderly patients.

Millsopps Estate Agents, on King Street, King's Lynn, is rolling out a scheme in which it will donate money to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in support of its Excel Appeal.

The appeal, backed by the EDP, 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.

Millsopps has pledged to donate £100 to the appeal for every completed house sale in which the seller works for the NHS. 'We have supported charities in the last three years and this year we have chosen to help a local cause,' said Dale Newson, sales manager at the company.

'We do get a lot of people having to move property because they're going into care, and many people unfortunately get affected by conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's so it's a fitting cause to support.'

The company will run the offer throughout 2016 after launching the scheme on February 8. Mr Newson said he hoped to raise up to £5,000 from the scheme. NHS clients will also receive a 25pc discount off the estate agents' selling fees.

Laurence Morlaas, fundraising executive at the hospital, said: 'We are delighted that Millsopps have decided to support our Excel Appeal for the whole of 2016.

'It's a great initiative which will be helpful to and appreciated by a lot of people working in the health sector.

'Any NHS staff – such as people working in our hospital, GPs, surgeries' employees, and dentists etc – selling their property with Millsopps will get a 25pc discount on selling fees and our appeal will also receive £100 per completed sale.

'I would like to encourage everyone to spread the word as the scheme will operate up to exchange or completion up to 31 December 2016.'

The company is the latest of several firms to pledge support to the Excel Appeal, following the launch of the fundraising campaign at the end of last year. Slimming World groups across west Norfolk have signed up to raise money the cause, while chimney sweep Stuart Dark, who runs Aflame Ltd, will donate part of his takings from jobs in December.

And Kenneth Bush Solicitors also joined the appeal, presenting £1,000 one week after the launch.

Ms Morlaas is encouraging other businesses to get involved in the fundraising campaign.

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

To donate, fill in the coupon (right), 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