St Richard's patients to benefit from funding pledge

At its annual meeting the Friends of Chichester Hospitals approved funding for just under £140,000 to buy equipment and pay for facility upgrades.

The money will go towards helping the hospital’s fight against infections. The Friends will be spending £29,000 on a vapour disinfection system called Bioquell Q10.

This will enable side rooms or whole bays in a ward to be treated swiftly after infectious patients have been discharged and to protect new patients from hospital acquired infections such as C Difficile, MRSA or the winter vomiting bug Norovirus which can prove deadly.

Friends chairman Jane Ramage said: “St Richard’s has worked hard to fight such bugs, and the friends are very pleased to support this equipment, which will ensure that decontamination can take place promptly after an outbreak, without waiting to hire equipment in. It will always be on standby.”

Six intravenous anaesthetic pumps costing £9,240 will also be purchased as part of the Western Sussex Hospital’s NHS Trust’s enhanced recovery programme at St Richard’s. These will be useful when the usual inhaled anaesthetics are unsuitable.

Also approved was a major reordering of the Women and Children’s reception and patient waiting area which will cost just over £100,000.

As part of the project an area of greater privacy will be provided for patients and staff needing to discuss sensitive personal details and arrange further investigations or appointments.

There will be more flexible and comfortable seating for patients attending the gynaecological and antenatal clinics or parenting classes.

The changes are linked to the new entrance already being constructed to give access to the new ophthalmology outpatients clinic to the north of the women and children’s block.

Mrs Ramage said: “The Friends have supported several initiatives for women and children over the past few years and have been very impressed by the dedication of the maternity and gynae staff to providing the best service possible for women in this area.

“Many of the women attending the clinics are anxious or distressed. Patient dignity and confidentiality will be enhanced by the project.”

Over the last few years the Friends have supported several very expensive projects at St Richard’s including the Eye Surgery (£350,000) and A&E X-Ray Room (£255,000).

Mrs Ramage said these projects could only be brought about as a result of legacy income.

“Even a small legacy from the residue of an estate can make a significant difference to the Friends’ ability to help patients and staff in our hospitals,” she said.

If anyone is considering making such a gift through their will, and would like more details, the Friends would be pleased to help.

Contact honourable secretary Paul Green, at Wannop Fox Staffurth & Bray, York Road Chambers, 6 York Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1LT. Email [email protected] or call 01243 864001.