Funding the latest technologies
Charitable funding can help to ensure that patients receive the best care possible, using the latest technologies. Below are just two examples of equipment we have funded recently:
Slit lamp
Queen Victoria Hospital provides specialist eye services for the local population and beyond. Patients are sometimes asked to attend a slit lamp appointment to get a clearer view of the back of their eyes, which isn’t always possible using standard digital photography.
At this appointment, the patient looks into a bright light for a few moments while the examiner looks at the back of their eye using a small lens. The examiner will be able to see around any obstructions such as cataract, previous trauma to the eye or any other opacities blocking the view of the retina.
The department did already have a slit lamp, but it was in constant use within clinic, as well as being also borrowed by Theatre and the wards. If it was being used in another area, patients’ treatment could be delayed in clinic, and vice versa. In these instances, hold-ups could occur, causing delays in the day’s appointment list, or the delay of ongoing treatment for a patient, in theatre or on the ward.
We were delighted to fund a second machine, costing £4,865. Now, delays are reduced, patients can receive early diagnosis and treatment, as well as being discharged more promptly.
Hopkins Telescope
If patients have suspected maxillary cancer (a cancer that starts in the maxillary sinus or tissues in the upper jawbone) staff can conduct a range of tests to aid with a diagnosis, like imaging scans (CT scans, MRIs) and biopsies.
We were proud to fund a Hopkins telescopic rod, costing £3,900, to help in these situations. The rod is a long scope which helps staff to see and diagnose cancers of the throat in patients. Most importantly it allows staff to calculate the size of a cancer and to work out which treatment is best for each patient.
The telescopic rod is a useful tool in the specialists’ toolbox as it gives them higher quality information on which to make these difficult decisions on how to treat these cancers.