Our aims as stated in the Constitution of the Friends are: “To mobilize, encourage, foster and maintain the interest and support of the public in the work of Stamford hospital.”
- We have developed good relationships with the staff of the Hospital, and particularly the Matron. They greatly value our support and the feedback we give them that we hear of in the town and surrounding areas.
- Through our links in the community, the volunteers and other sources we keep in close touch with activity in the Hospital, and the concerns of staff and patients.
- We have regular contact with senior Trust management, including the Chief Executive and Medical Director, and keep them informed of the views expressed by our members.
- The Stamford Hospital Development Advisory Committee meets regularly where we have representation.
Acquisitions
The Friends are also active in raising funds, which have been used for a wide variety of purposes, and increasingly to fund extra pieces of equipment to help develop further the services offered at the Hospital. Here’s a few recent acquisitions.
Ultrasound Hockey Stick Probe (£5,990)
This item was approved at our meeting in February 2023, but was only delivered during August. It is a probe for looking at small joints, particularly the hands, and is very useful for patients with hand injuries or chronic disease of the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis.
MRI Communication System (£8,406)
This item was requested as the original communication/audio equipment stopped working and could not be repaired. It allows the radiographers and radiologists to communicate with patients during examinations. It can also provide music, podcasts or audiobooks to patients during scans. Some scans may take a long time and patients can feel claustrophobic and anxious. The systems helps to distract and calm patients.
Paediatric Gym Equipment
We received a request from the physiotherapists who deal with children, for some suitable equipment to help with rehabilitation. Equipment had previously been generic and sometimes not suitable for children. The team were quite frugal with their request, so instead of buying items as we normally do, we allocated £1250 to the team to buy what they needed!
Child’s Play Cube (£1,632)
Many more children are attending Stamford hospital and this play cube is just one piece of equipment provided for the paediatric and midwifery clinics that will help keep them occupied whilst waiting to be seen.
Child’s Play Table
It’s such a simple thing but it makes a big difference. This child’s play table is another quality piece of equipment provided for the paediatric and midwifery clinics that will be fun to play with and help to keep the children occupied and distracted whilst waiting to be seen.
Child’s Wall Art (£145)
Wall art to make the hospital walls in the waiting areas a much friendlier experience.
Child’s Play Table
This second play table is another piece of equipment provided for the paediatric and midwifery clinics that will help keep them occupied whilst waiting to be seen.
Child’s Wall Art (£145)
Wall art to make the hospital walls in the waiting areas a much friendlier experience.
Grab Bag (£399)
The cardiac arrest team may be called to a collapsed patient anywhere in the hospital or the surrounding grounds. The grab bag contains all the equipment and drugs that might be needed, is easy to transport and is well designed so the contents can be found very quickly.
Height and Scales
A convenient height measuring stand with attached scales to help us watch our weight.
MRI Trolley
An trolley to help patients when attending the hospital for an MRI scan.
MRI Wheelchair
A wheelchair to help patients when attending the hospital for an MRI scan.
Obesity Scales (£595)
It is important that patients’ weight and height are accurately recorded. These scales provide greater stability for larger patients.
Outpatient Seating
The Friends of Stamford Hospital are pleased to have provided these seats which will make patients more comfortable whilst awaiting appointments.
Overnight bed for Relatives
The Friends of Stamford Hospital are pleased to have provided a bed for a relative to use whilst providing support for a patient.
Reception Seating (£726)
The Friends of Stamford Hospital are pleased to have provided these seats for the hospital reception area, which will make visitors to the hospital more comfortable whilst awaiting appointments for themselves or for others.
Urine Analyser (£499)
Stamford Hospital is playing an important part in the investigation of patients with urinary problems, and this equipment, two of which were purchased, is an important part of that.
ECG Machine
The Minor Injuries Unit is not designed to take patients with cardiac emergencies, but some patients do often seek help when they live nearby. This ECG machine is important for rapid assessment and the tracings produced can be transmitted immediately to heart specialists in Peterborough, Papworth or Leicester.
Stamford Hospital Museum display cabinet
The Friends have been pleased to give financial support to the Hospital Museum for a display cabinet as a token of our admiration and thanks to the Matron, Susan Brooks, who has worked tirelessly with colleagues to establish such a powerful and interesting record of the nearly 200 year history.
Fall Prevention Equipment
Falls of elderly or confused patients are common in hospitals, and are dangerous. This fall prevention equipment warns the nursing staff that a patient who is at risk is restless.
Baby/Child Scales
These are new very accurate scales to allow quick weighing of children which is an important part of monitoring their progress and determining the doses of any medicines they may need.
Repose Boots
This equipment is very effective in preventing pressure sores on the heels of immobile patients on the van Geest unit.
Radio for Clinic Room
Something pleasant to listen to during uncomfortable examinations to relax, distract the mind and calm the nerves.
Folding Bed
This comfortable folding bed is used by relatives wishing to stay overnight with ill patients on the van Geest unit.
Pediatric Blood Pressure Cuff
A special small cuff for small arms, specifically designed for use with children.
Plaster Saw
This is used to remove solid plasters from patients. The new saw is quieter and quicker than the old models which helps reduce the patients’ anxiety.
Falls monitoring equipment in the JVG unit
Restless and confused elderly patients are at great risk of falling. This equipment is used to alert staff to the fact that at risk patients are getting out of bed.
Television in day theatre recovery room
In the day case unit patients often need to wait some hours until they are well enough to go home, and watching TV helps pass the time.
Comfortable, adjustable chair in the day unit recovery room
This chair is fully reclinable and can at the press of a button become a flat bed. This is important for patients recovering from general anaesthetic or heavy sedation.
Cystoscopy (examination of the bladder) equipment in day theatre
The bladder can be examined in detail under light sedation using this state of the art equipment, which is central to the one stop haematuria (blood in the urine) investigation service.
Comfortable reclining chair for phlebotomy (blood sampling) suite
This comfortable chair helps patients relax when having blood samples taken, and if they feel faint, the chair can be made flat at the touch of a button to let the patient have a lie down.
Visual field analyser for eye clinic
Recording visual fields this is an essential part of the assessment of patients with eye disease, and particularly glaucoma. This device is very sophisticated and patient friendly.
Screen and printer for out patient colposcopy equipment
This allows trainee doctors and nurses to see what is being done and also the nurse assistant to be more involved in the examinations. The printer provides the capacity to record visually what has been seen.
Gynaecology couch for the out patient department
This comfortable and adjustable examination couch helps patients relax as far as is possible when having such examinations, and makes the examination easier, quicker and more effective.
Hand function instrument
This equipment is used to measure hand function and assists the hand surgeons in assessing and following the progress of their patients.
Large wheel chair
This especially wide chair is for additional comfort for the increasing number of patients who will not fit into standard chairs.
Out patient garden
We have made a small financial contribution, and all the work to establish and care for the garden has been done by hospital staff. This is a good example of the commitment of the staff to the hospital.
Refurb of relatives’ room
Relatives waiting for patients to complete their treatment are often anxious and upset. We have funded the refurbishment of this room to help provide a calming and comfortable space.
Child’s wheelchair
There are more patients who are children using the Hospital. This is an example of how we feel it important to cater for their particular needs.
Toybox for MIU
This is another example of our efforts to make children welcome and happy when they come to the Hospital.
Audio visual ticket machine
Sometimes, when busy, there is a wait for blood tests. This machine is to make sure that everyone is seen in turn.
Dining table and chairs
The Van Geest unit has been refurbished by the Trust recently and is a valuable part of the services of the Hospital. This new furniture was much needed.
Wall-mounted TV brackets
TVs on bed-side lockers are a liability and can so easily be knocked over. The wall brackets have made a big difference to improve space and safety.
Adolescent Wheelchair
A smaller more comfortable chair for our smaller patients.
