1236Kb pdf - MedEquip4Kids

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SOMETHING TO
ABOUT
MedEquip4Kids
The children’s health charity
www.medequip4kids.org.uk
SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER
The children’s health charity
New diagnostic
equipment in
Bolton gives
rapid diagnosis
of meningitis
MedEquip4Kids has provided a stateof-the-art BioFire Film Array at Royal
Bolton Hospital, a revolutionary
piece of equipment that diagnoses
meningitis and other infections in children. It delivers results within 90 minutes, ensuring children
receive appropriate life-saving treatment significantly faster than before and reducing the agonising
worry so many families go through while waiting for a diagnosis.
The funding was made possible thanks to Simplyhealth, the UK’s leading cash plan provider. The
company has donated more than £44,000 to MedEquip4Kids for equipment in Greater Manchester,
including resources for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and vital breathing equipment
at Tameside General Hospital.
Consultant
microbiologist
Dr Pradeep
Subudhi says:
“This is a fantastic
development for
Bolton and we’re
very grateful to
Simplyhealth and
MedEquip4Kids.”
We did it!
Caring for the tiniest babies in Wigan
We were delighted to provide a new incubator
for the busy neo natal unit at Wigan Infirmary,
which treats babies weighing as little as 2lb. The
new incubator allows easier access to babies for
medical staff and parents, aiding the bonding
process.
Thank you to VINCI Construction for supporting
this project, and to the fundraising committee in
Wigan, who helped raise funds through events
including the Wigan Snow Ball last year.
Playtime
at Stepping Hill
A new play area for young patients outside the
Treehouse Unit at Stepping Hill Hospital is now open,
thanks to funding from MedEquip4Kids. Children
helped design the new outside area, which features a
bright seafaring theme with bridges, hills, tunnels and
a huge model boat.
Thanks to everyone who contributed, in particular
VINCI Construction UK and The Swallow Trust.
Senior nurse Julie Armstrong says: “I would like
to give tremendous thanks to MedEquip4Kids for
their outstanding donation to the hospital. The new
incubator will be of huge benefit to our unit, and most
importantly, to babies and their families. Once again,
they have made an invaluable contribution and we are
incredibly grateful for their continued support.”
Lighting up Royal
Lancaster Infirmary
Children attending the radiology department at Royal
Lancaster Infirmary will benefit from new equipment
funded by MedEquip4Kids to help distract them while
undergoing X-rays and procedures.
The equipment includes a waterfall projection, lighting
equipment in five rooms in the department, and toys and
games for the waiting area. Our thanks to the Galbraith
Trust and Furness Building Society for supporting this
project.
The play area was opened by Stockport NHS
Foundation Trust chairman Gillian Easson with
CBBC presenter Katie Thistleton, who lives
locally and is a supporter of MedEquip4Kids.
Gillian says: “This play area will make a real
difference to the young patients who come
here. Being able to play and be outside whilst
in hospital enables children to continue an
important aspect of their normal life.”
A very special mouse: how resources are
helping children with mental health problems
Zoe is a nurse practitioner at a Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services (CAMHS) unit which received
toys, books and games from MedEquip4Kids. Zoe
was conducting sessions on personal hygiene with
a 14-year-old girl who has autism and selective
mutism. She visited the school for weeks, but the
girl never spoke. Finally Zoe discovered the key to
unlocking the barriers when she brought along a
little toy mouse.
“What have you done this weekend?” Zoe asked.
The girl shrugged. “Look, I don’t need to know. It’s
Mouse who asked me to ask you, so just tell him.”
She held Mouse out to the girl and turned away.
The girl spoke fluently as she explained what she’d
done over the weekend. It was the first time Zoe had
heard her voice, and she cried. Using Mouse, she
was able to indirectly teach the girl the importance
of personal hygiene. Eventually the girl was able to
talk to Zoe, though Mouse always came along for
the ride.
We need your help!
Oxygen
support
for babies Better access to
Wythenshawe
sensory
in
South Manchester
therapeutic treatment
suitcase
The neo natal unit at Wythenshawe Hospital cares for
around 500 babies each year. All babies have their heart
rate and oxygen level monitored on admission, and
some throughout their stay. The unit needs two new
pulse oximeters to replace older models. These are small
portable monitors that read oxygen levels and heart
rate via a probe attached to the baby’s hand or foot.
They’re used overnight in a ‘sleep study’ to ensure levels
of oxygen remains correct. They also alert staff to any
deterioration in the baby’s clinical condition, allowing
them to respond quickly.
A child-friendly space at
Royal Oldham
The radiology unit at Royal Oldham Hospital has no
specific paediatric ultrasound scan room or waiting area.
We’re helping to create a calming environment so young
patients can relax before treatment. One of the current
rooms will be adapted with hot air balloon artwork,
ceiling inserts, and comfortable seating. Bubble tubes,
UV fibre optic strands and projected lighting effects and
images will provide sensory distraction during treatment.
Firwood School in Bolton is a specialist school for
students with learning difficulties. Many also have
profound physical disabilities. The school have asked
for our help to provide a stretcher hoist attachment
and trolley for their hydrotherapy pool. This will allow
disabled children to access the pool more easily,
ensuring they can participate in this valuable treatment,
which can strengthen muscles and improve mobility.
Leaving a gift to a charity in your Will is one
of the most wonderful and
significant ways you can
continue to transform the lives
of others beyond your lifetime.
These gifts can help us to
fund medical equipment for
hospitals, giving every child
a better chance of recovery.
To discuss leaving a legacy to
MedEquip4Kids, please call us on 0161 798 1600.
If you can help us fund any of these projects, visit
www.medequip4kids.org.uk
Fundraising news
Thank you to all our fantastic fundraisers
Ten teams of four competed in the Kier Group
Golf Day at Oswestry Golf Club, raising £5,124
to fund a sensory space at Robert Jones and
Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry
80 golfers took part in our Annual Corporate
Charity Golf Day at Bramall Park Golf Club,
raising a fabulous £5,878
Wallace and Gromit’s Children’s Charity donated
£8,900 to provide two Vapotherm units for
Royal Preston Hospital
Children’s TV presenter Kirsten O’ Brien
presented an appeal for us on BBC Radio
4, raising nearly £6,000 for children’s mental
health
Our team of fantastic runners joined us for the
Great Manchester 10k Run
Supporters including a team from Moto
completed the Gung Ho! inflatable fun run
Stop Press
Why not join CBBC’s
Katie Thistleton
in conquering the
Yorkshire Three Peaks
Challenge on Saturday
10th September?
Dates for the diary
Sat 10th Sept 2016
Yorkshire 3 Peaks
Sun 18th Sept 2016
Lancashire Loop Cycle Ride
In memory of Jim Hall
Fri 30th Sept 2016
Go Ape
Register online at
www.medequip4kids.org.uk
MedEquip4Kids, Appeals Office, Rico House, George Street, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 9WS
Registered charity number 1102830