Donations to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity really do make a difference to patient care at times when they need it the most.
Through the Covid-19 Charitable Funds Application process, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity recently supported several bids for the palliative care team to purchase equipment to help palliative patients be more comfortable when they are in hospital.
The Health Charity was pleased to support the palliative care team when they requested five recliner chairs, six fold away beds, 12 headsets, 20 TENS machines and 20 heat pads.
The recliner chairs assist patients who struggle to breathe when lying in bed and find sitting more comfortable. The fold away beds allow relatives to stay with family members to spend precious moment with those who are at the end of life. The headsets aid communication for patients who suffer with deafness and find it difficult to understand staff wearing masks and the TENS machines and heat pads to help with pain control.
Andrea Rich, Lead Nurse Palliative Care gave some great feedback and said: “The recliner chairs have been distributed to wards that the team feel may need them the most, however they can be used for any patient within the hospital. The chairs are currently located on wards B7 and C6 at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), West 2 and East 8 at University Hospital Llandough (UHL) and on Lansdown Ward at St David’s Hospital.
“Out of the six beds, three will remain at UHW, one will be transferred to UHL, one to St David’s Hospital and one to Barry Hospital. The beds at UHL and UHW will add to the current palliative care stock that all wards can access through the palliative care office on each site. “The headsets have started to be used and patients and staff report great benefits with them. The heat packs and TENS machines will be kept in the palliative care offices on both sites for ease of access when required.”
To find out more about how Cardiff & Vale Health Charity can help make a difference to patients and staff in your area please visit: www.healthcharity.wales or email fundraising.cav@wales.nhs.uk