The Friends are pleased to have provided funding of £4,344 for two more tilt chairs for Therapy Services.

We asked Louise Panella, Lead Therapist, her opinion … she said … 

“The 2 adjustable Milano chairs gifted by the Friends at Broomfield Hospital in March 2023 are being used throughout the hospital under the care of Therapy Services. The provision of the 2 additional ‘pink’ Tilt Chairs has been amazing and well received by the therapy staff, patients and wards alike.

Not only do these chairs provide the initial stepping stones in supporting patients’ recovery and transitioning them from being in bed to sitting out, but they also allow patients to work on functional and daily activities that we take for granted.  This may be engaging with meals or socialising with visitors. 

It also empowers the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to facilitate this journey by having the necessary tools at hand. Some patients have additional seating positional needs that are not met by the standard static high back armchair nor the recliner chairs typically found on the wards.  If they were sat out in such chairs they would be at a very high risk of falling.

As such this patient group are typically left in bed for prolonged periods of time which exacerbates their functional decline and increases the challenges to both patient and staff to support recovery. They are vulnerable to being dependent on others, having periods of low mood, and a loss of sense of self and motivation.“

As you can see, just a ‘chair’ can make such a difference to patient recovery. This is a particularly special donation by the Friends … as the pink chairs are in memory of our longest serving Friend … Barbara Coupe. She was a ray of sunshine and loved everything pink!

Volunteers from the Friends at Broomfield are pictured here taking a look at the Mobile Phone charging station that has been installed in A&E.

The charging station was presented to A&E and allows patients, visitors and staff to charge their mobile phones ‘free of charge’ whilst they are visiting the department. 

At a cost of £1,836 donated by the Friends … we hope that the charging station will relieve a small level of patients’ stress whilst in A&E in helping them to stay in urgent contact with their family and friends.

A delivery of twenty-five breast surgery care packs has been donated to the Breast Friends support group at Broomfield Hospital following funding of £1,536 from the Friends at Broomfield.

£1,000 of this funding was received on behalf of one particular donor who requested that the donation be directed to Breast Care at Broomfield.

The packs contain carefully selected items for a hospital stay following breast-related surgery. Included in each pack are drain bags, sleep masks, self-heating eye-masks and toiletry items, all known to be of particular use before and after surgical procedures.

A recipient of one of the boxes said: “I can’t tell you how much it meant to receive one of these care packages. Not just because of the things in it but because someone took the time to put it together especially for me.”

Volunteer Marion Lee of the Friends at Broomfield experiencing the Northern Lights courtesy of the new VR headset which has been donated by the Friends to the Broomfield Anaesthetic Department. Awaiting their turn are Chairperson Alison Douglas and volunteer Alison Bridge.

The headset which cost £2,445 was presented to Alon Kramer from the Anaesthetics Team who explained how it is used … it acts as a distraction, mainly to calm young patients or nervous adults, when they are undergoing procedures or about to receive an anaesthetic. It has been a big hit with both staff and patients alike, and has been a hugely beneficial piece of equipment for the department.

Anaesthetist, Dr. Alon Kramer said: “We are exceptionally grateful for the funding provided to us by the Friends at Broomfield.

Nine specialist breast feeding pumps have been funded via a donation of £12,600 from the wonderful Friends at Broomfield.

The specialist grade pumps will benefit mums and babies receiving care and support from the Cleft lip and palate team at Broomfield Hospital. Babies born with a cleft palate and/or lip, will often have trouble creating a vacuum with their mouth to breast feed directly from their mother, these pumps will mean that those babies can still have breast milk without the struggle. 

Laura O’Brien, Clinical Nurse Specialist said: “We are so grateful to the Friends for their support. The free loan service will mean that families do not need to purchase or pay to rent their own breast pump which is often costly. Mothers now have greater options to continue breast feeding their babies that would otherwise have needed to have been supplemented with formula milk”.

The nine pumps will be available for loan at no charge for as long as is needed by mothers and their babies.

One hundred and fifty pairs of supportive slippers have made their way to Broomfield’s Falls team for distribution to wards where patient falls are more prevalent. The ever-loyal and supportive Friends at Broomfield group has funded the latest supply of slippers.

Carrie Tyler, Falls Improvement Specialist Practitioner, said “The support of the Friends is appreciated by us all. These slippers will benefit many of our older patients by providing them with supportive footwear whilst on the ward and for their recovery at home, especially for those who do not have any family or friends to buy new ones for them.

“The patients we have provided the slippers for already have been delighted, enabling them to begin to mobilise.”