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                   Rehabilitation Equipment for Intermediate care and rehabilitation unit

Department/ward          ICAR

Charitable Fund              COVID Fund

Project description        

The aim of the project is to acquire a RECK MOTOmed loop.la to help with patient rehabilitation.

ICAR is a 24 bedded Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation Unit based at Houghton Primary Care Centre. The piece of equipment that the unit has request will support the maximisation of the physiotherapist time with patients.

The RECK MOTOmed loop.la is a movement therapy exercise bike that can be used to work both lower limbs and upper limbs. It is especially developed so it can be used safely and effectively with people with very limited mobility, muscular weakness or altered muscle tone. It is beneficial to patients with a wide variety of conditions including Stroke, PD, MS, COPD, General frailty, orthopedic injuries or arthritic conditions, dementia and low mood.

The bike will also be useful for patients who are recovering from covid 19 and suffer from long covid It will be used to support the therapy rehab programs of patients on the ICAR unit to help improve functional strength, circulation, exercise tolerance, help reduce muscle tone and spasms, improve mood and help motivate patients in their recovery due to objective feedback on their progress.

Overall the therapy bike can be used by a wide variety of patients with varying conditions and varying levels of strength and mobility. It will increase therapy time provided on the unit and benefit patient care as once it is set up and the patient has their own program designated by the therapist other staff can assist the patient to use the bike throughout the day and over weekends as an addition to other therapy interventions.

The charitable funds committee were so enthused by this project that they decided to approve funding for two bikes instead of the one that was originally requested.

Project name                   Midwife Bereavement Lead for Maternity Services

Department/ward          Midwifery

Charitable Fund              General Purposes

Project description

The aim of the project is to fund the recruitment of a Midwife Bereavement Lead.

Supporting parents following the loss of their baby during pregnancy, at birth or very soon after is a vital and also challenging role for the midwife or support worker.  Although all Maternity staff have the skills and attributes to support bereavement they have limited experience and expertise in caring for bereaved families and this can leave the health professional feeling anxious on how and what to say to parents and families and can also leave the families confused and upset if the midwife doesn’t address their needs.

The recruitment of a Midwife Bereavement Lead will enable the Directorate to improve the journey and experience of bereaved families  and provide a service in line with National Bereavement Care Pathway Standards.  In addition the requirement for a Midwife Bereavement Lead supports the recommendations within the Ockenden Report to ensure bereaved families received the appropriate emotional support.

The main aspect of the role is to ensure parents get the best individualised care.  To be able to recognise, assess, plan and respond to additional care needs following traumatic experiences.

The Bereavement Lead will work in partnership with the woman, her partner and family as appropriate, and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary and/or multiagency team, to plan and implement compassionate, respectful, empathetic, dignified midwifery care for women and partners and families.

Project name                   Staff Restroom Reconfiguration

Department/ward          Midwifery

Charitable Fund              General Purposes

Project description

The aim of this project is to use a neighbouring office to expand the capacity of the staff restroom in the delivery suite.

Due to the requirement of social distancing implemented as a result of the covid pandemic the current rest room does not provide the adequate amount of space or a relaxing environment for staff to undertake breaks.  This is having a negative impact on staff morale and wellbeing.

This project would involve reconfiguration of the existing staff rest room and an office next door to create a larger space for staff to undertake breaks. 

The Delivery Suite is an extremely busy area, with a large staff cohort utilising the rest room, made up of midwives, maternity support workers, Junior Medical Staff and Consultants. At any time there are approx. 30 midwives plus junior medical staff on duty from the delivery suite, ante natal clinic and day unit needing to access the rest room.  Currently due to covid restrictions with regards to maintaining 2m social distance only 6 staff can utilize the room at any one time.

The proposal will allow the rest room size to be doubled and so enabling 12-15 members of staff to utilise the room at the same time.

Project name                  #EndPJparalysis web application

Department/ward          Patient Experience

Charitable Fund              General Purposes

Project description

The aim of this project is to acquire the #EndPJparalysis web application and to take part in the 90 day challenge.

Health Service 360 are inviting organisations to participate in the #EndPJparalysis 90 day Challenge. The challenge will create an opportunity to reduce risk, prevent harm and reduce the associated costs related to deconditioning for the people we care for. To participate in the challenge the organisation must access a web application (supported by a mobile app). The challenge is undertaken over a 90 day period however access to the learning resources extends beyond that time scale.

#EndPJparalysis has become a global movement embraced by nurses, therapists and medical colleagues. Its aim: to value patients’ time and help more people to live the richest, fullest lives possible by reducing immobility, muscle deconditioning, and dependency at the same time as protecting cognitive function, social interaction and dignity whilst they are in our care

For many wearing pyjamas reinforces feeling unwell and can prevent a speedy recovery. One of the most valuable resources is a patients’ time and getting people up and dressed is a vital step in ensuring that they do not spend any longer than is clinically necessary in hospital.

Encouraging patients to wear their own clothes in hospital enhances their dignity, safety and retains their sense of identity and when something works well for patients it works for staff too.

Encouraging patients to get dressed everyday rather than remaining in their pyjamas or hospital gown when they do not need to boosts recovery and makes the most of precious time so it can be better spent with loved ones.

 Evidence shows that immobility in hospital leads to deconditioning, loss experiences from #EndPJparalysis .

The continued focus on #EndPJparalysis through these ongoing  measures and education will enable us to identify best practice reduce risk prevent harm and reduce the associated costs related to deconditioning . More importantly it will keep the focus and activity on enhancing patient experience, while protecting both their mobility and cognitive function.

Staff will continue have access to the learning resources after the 90 days.

Project name                   Hospedia TV – Free provision to patients 24/12/20 to 01/01/21

Department/ward          Corporate Affairs

Charitable Fund              COVID Fund

Project description

This was a retrospective approval of a project already undertaken.

As a result of continued visiting restrictions it was approved that the Trust would fund Hospedia TV provision for the periods:  24/12, 26-31/12 and 1/1 paid for by the Trust.  Hospedia provide this free on 25/12.

It was felt this would not only bring some entertainment for patients who may otherwise not purchase Hospedia, but would also provide some support to staff who would benefit from patients being entertained.

Retrospective approval is sought where a project has already taken place. This process is only used where projects need approval outside of normal committee meetings and can not wait, it is used vary rarely. At the time the project must gain the agreement of a quorum of the committee via email, which is then ratified as a retrospective approval at the next full committee meeting.    

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