20 April 2009
The High Sheriff of Surrey 2008-09, Sally Varah, visited Epsom Hospital recently to officially open the hospital's new cutting-edge neutral pressure room, which cost nearly ¼ million pounds.
The room means that patients with severe respiratory illnesses, such as tuberculosis (TB) can be isolated from other people, preventing it from spreading to other patients.
As one of the last official visits before her year long term comes to an end, the High Sheriff spent time finding out more about the room and discussing its benefits with hospital staff. She also met volunteers from the Friends of Epsom General and West Park Hospitals, who paid for half the room's £240,000 price tag. The remainder was funded by the Trust's capital investment programme.
Maria Paterson is the matron with responsibility for the room. She said: "The room is a fantastic resource and will allow us to treat people who have contracted illnesses like TB. Previously, they would have to be transferred to other hospitals, many of them far away. This is not nice for the patients and makes it very difficult for friends and family who want to visit."
The room has a pressurised lobby area with a double door which ensures that germs do not get out. As well as TB, it will be used to help treat patients with viral pneumonia due to chicken pox or measles.
Maria added: "A patient might typically be in the room for a fortnight whilst they are being treated for TB so it's important they have as much of a normal life as possible. Being physically isolated from other people won't, however, mean being socially cut off - there will be a phone, television, sofa, radio and other home comforts in the room too."
Sally Varah, High Sheriff of Surrey, said: "I was extremely impressed with the neutral pressure room, and with the professionalism of the staff I met at the hospital. The unit is great news for the hospital and even better news for the people of Epsom and the surrounding areas. It takes the treatment of people suffering with TB and other respiratory conditions into a new and greatly improved orbit."
League of Friends Chairman, Dr Geoffrey Robb, said: "This is a really important clinical room that will make a huge difference to the lives of patients as well as their families. I'm delighted that the League of Friends has been able to help fund the project."
Experts at the hospital are aware of a nationwide increase in infectious diseases and drug-resistant diseases. International travel makes it likely that patients could be exposed to this type of illness and bring it back to the UK.
It is estimated the room will be used to treat approximately 12 cases of TB a year, in addition to other illnesses.
