The charitable funds Committee meets regularly to review projects submitted for funding from the Trusts Charitable Funds, projects of a value over £5,000 automatically go to the committee for review along with any deemed unusual by the Exec Team.

The committee reviews multiple proposals at its meetings, not all are approved, some a rejected as inappropriate, others may be differed pending additional information.

Below is an outline of each project approved by the committee at this meeting;

Project name                  Brainomix

Department/ward          Stroke Unit

Division                           Rehab & Elderly Medicine 

Charitable Fund              COVID fund

Project description    

The project aim is to purchase the Brainomix software package.

Brainomix is a package of software that assists clinical staff in diagnosing and in identifying the best treatment pathway for stroke patients. There are three key elements to the package, e-ASPECTS, e-CTA and e-mismatch;

e-ASPECTS uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable quick and accurate assessment of ischemic stroke damage, both by quantifying the volume of ischemia and with the ASPECTS score (Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score; Barber etal 2000); it therefore enables a more standardized stroke diagnosis. It facilitates fast and consistent treatment decisions by medical professionals who can review results anywhere, in less than one minute.

e-CTA is image processing software that uses advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) and large data analytics to automate the detection of Large Vessel Occlusion locations and standardize the collateral assessment process. It facilitates faster, better-informed treatment decisions for endovascular treatment.

e-mismatch – is an AI software product provides information around brain perfusion after ischaemic stroke, that cannot be gained by current routine CT or MRI.

In the context of stroke, when time is brain, any enhancement in efficiency will have real benefit for patients, as will opening the potential window for treatment.

Project name                   MOTOmed

Department/ward           Hume Unit

Division                            Rehab & Elderly Medicine 

Charitable Fund               Hume Unit Fund

Project description         

The project aim is to purchase a MOTOmed for the Hume Unit.

MOTOmed is an on-device therapy form similar to normal cycling, which allows for passive, motor-supported and active movements. Even with minimal muscle strength, users can do an efficient active training during alternating active-passive training.

Use of the machine has been shown to increase in muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, improvement in joint range and psychological and social interaction.

The unit will use the MOTOmed with Stroke and neurological Rehabilitation Patients.

As part of a 6 month trial of the device Hume Unit patients help raise some of the funds for this project by using it to cover various distances including the length of the river wear in the “Tour de Hume” fundraising campaign.

Project name                   Optos Optomap camera

Department/ward           Ophthalmology

Charitable Fund               Ophthalmology Charitable Funds

Project description        

The aim of the project is to purchase an Optos Optomap camera for use at the Sunderland Eye Infermary. 

The Optos Optomap camera is a unique device that provides both colour and angiographic images covering a 200 degree field of view. The wide field imaging is invaluable for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of conditions such as diabetes and other vasculopathies, uveitis, neoplasms, and retinal dystrophies.

The department has had a camera on a trial basis which has proved to be very useful in assessing patients sent to us from A&E and Paediatrics. The ability to produce high resolution images of the whole retina means that the doctors will be able to conduct well-informed virtual clinics, reducing the footfall in the Eye Infermary.

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