20 June 2008
Essential lifesaving equipment which is used to diagnose neurological (brain) conditions has been donated to help sick children at the Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, which is part of St Helier hospital. It will also be used to diagnose adults who are admitted to both Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
Volunteers from the League of Friends at the two hospitals and Friends of the Queen Mary's Hospital for Children raised over £30,000 for the new state-of-the-art portable recording system, called an EEG (Electroencephalograph) Digital Acquisition System.
The device allows doctors to record patients' brain waves and to check for any abnormalities.
Karen Widley is in charge of the Trust's clinical neuro physiology service which checks patients for epilepsy, dementia and problems with the brain or central nervous system.
She said: "We are extremely grateful to the three League of Friends for the EEG Digital Acquisition System. It will record brain waves to match typical brain activity of a patient of a similar age who is not suffering from these conditions. This will mean we will be able to ensure accurate diagnosis is given to the patient as quickly as possible."
Over the past year, the clinical neuro physiology department has seen 2,500 patients ranging from small children to elderly adults.
Val Brundle, Chairman of the St Helier League of Friends, said she and her volunteers from the other two groups were delighted to assist.
"All three groups thought it was important that young children as well as other people with these conditions have access to the best possible equipment and receive the quickest and most effective treatment possible."
Val added: "This is the first time all three groups have worked together on a combined project. Ultimately we all have one goal - to make sure patients have access to the best equipment."
