8 July 2011
The former Chief Executive of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, David Smith, made a return visit to Britten Ward at Epsom Hospital last week (28 June 2011) to present Welch Allyn Patient Monitoring Equipment, worth £40,000 and purchased by Epsom Medical Equipment Fund.
Reunited with many of the nurses and specialists who oversaw his recovery, David made the presentation to Maria Paterson, matron for speciality medicine (which covers stroke) and winner of the Trust's Nurse of the Year award for 2010/11.
David said: "I was admitted to Britten Ward in October 2008 following my stroke and received excellent care during the time I was there.
"I am sure this new monitoring equipment will be very useful to the staff to enable them to continue their excellent care of patients."
This monitoring equipment allows stroke patients to be continually monitored from a central viewing station, instantly alerting clinicians to any deterioration in the patient and enabling them to act quickly. As the monitors are mobile, it allows patients who are able to move around greater freedom to do so.
Specialist stroke nurse Reena Dhami, who works on Britten Ward, said: 'We are very thankful to have received the monitoring equipment from the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund.
"This equipment will allow us to promptly recognise changes in patients' conditions, which may be due to occurrences such as an irregular heart rhythm or suspected bleeding, and get them treated quickly."
Fund co-ordinator, Bess Harding said that she was 'delighted' that they had succeeded in purchasing this equipment and paid tribute to the tremendous support the Fund continues to receive from local people.
