GENEROUS DONATION WILL KEEP PATIENTS MOVING
HomeGENEROUS DONATION WILL KEEP PATIENTS MOVING
On Monday 11 February 2019, Mr Colin Ford visited Weston General Hospital to officially handover his donation of a new Sara Stedy – a piece of equipment used to help patients mobilise – to the hospital’s Uphill stroke unit.
Mr Ford, was a patient at Weston General Hospital, and wanted to show his appreciation for the care he received by donating a much-needed piece of equipment.
Mr Ford said: “Staff were fantastic and helped me make amazing progress. I was in Weston General Hospital for a total of 11 weeks and used a Sara Stedy to help me get around, use the facilities and do my rehab exercises. I felt it would be great for the stroke unit to have a second Sara Stedy for other patients like me to speed up recovery, so I decided to donate one. I felt it was a small thing to show my appreciation to the stroke unit. If it wasn’t for the unit I wouldn’t be home now.”
Catherine Barber, Uphill stroke unit sister, said: “This piece of equipment is invaluable to patients and staff. It will reduce waiting times for patients needing to use it and give them a better experience. With only one Sara Stedy it has been difficult and it will now be easier and quicker for patients to use the facilities and hopefully speed up their rehabilitation. This has been a much needed bit of equipment which we have been awaiting funding for but with Colin’s donation we can help more people at the same time. It is truly amazing.”
James Rimmer, Weston Area Health NHS Trust’s chief executive, said: “We are very grateful for Colin’s donation. This is a vital piece of equipment which will improve the patient experience. We are always extremely pleased to work with donors who want to give specific items of equipment and anyone wanting to do this can get in touch with our communications team, through the main hospital switchboard, and they will be happy to advise how to go about it.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- To find out more about Weston Area Health NHS Trust please visit http://www.waht.nhs.uk/
· A Sara Stedy enables one caregiver to transfer patients safely and with ease. It promotes early mobilisation, simplified every day transfers and flexibility across patient and resident capability. It eases the use throughout the sit-to-stand movement and encourages patients to take an active role in everyday transfers, including transfers from bed to chair, toilet or washbasin.