Charitable Funds Committee approves projects at October 2021 meeting

The Charitable Funds Committee agreed to fund six projects at its meeting in October, one for Theatres, three for Trauma and Orthoprdics, one for Urology and one in Ophalmology. 

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              Gamma Probe

Department/ward     Theatres

Charitable Fund         Medical Equipment Fund   

Project description       

The aim of this project is to acquire a Gamma Probe for use in Theatres.

A gamma probe is a handheld device used by Surgeons to identify lymph nodes that they are going to remove. One of the most common uses of gamma probes is in a surgical procedure called a Sentinel Node Biopsy. Sentinel Node Biopsies can be used to determine whether a tumour has metastasized to the lymphatic system, which is often the route cancers use to spread to new locations within the body.

This equipment helps to improve diagnosis and reduce the need for unnecessary surgeries.

Project name              Minor operations unit – surgical light & other equipment.

Department/ward     Trauma and Orthopaedics

Charitable Fund         Medical Equipment Fund   

Project description  

As part of the response to COVID 19, Trauma and Orthopaedics established a minor operations unit, to perform minor procedures such as fracture manipulations, wound exploration and closure. This reduced the burden on radiology services and the requirement for hospital admission for surgery.

The unit has proved to be a success not only relieving pressure on ED and radiology but also reducing demand on Trauma theatre time reducing cancellations of elective Orthopaedic procedures.

Much of the equipment used in the unit at its establishment has been loaned to it from other areas within the Trust. The Charitable Funds committee has approved two bids to provide this unit with the equipment it needs, a surgical light and an assortment of other surgical equipment.

Project name              T-Max shoulder attachment for surgical shoulder procedures

Department/ward      Trauma and Orthopaedics

Charitable Fund         Orthopaedic Department Fund

Project description  

The committee approved the acquisition of a T-Max shoulder attachment for use in Trauma and Orthopaedics.

The T-Max shoulder attachment increases patient safety during surgery with additional stabilization for patient positioning. It has leg bolster and straps keep the patient in place, preventing the patient slipping down the table maintaining the stable position of patients throughout the procedure improves the anaesthetic process.

Superior positioning provides improved access to the shoulder joint for surgeon, and also for operative training. The surgeon and/or surgical assistant can stand directly behind the patient without having to lean over the table, providing a more ergonomically comfortable position for the staff member and reducing strain.

Project name              Diathermy machine to use in the Urology Treatment Centre

Department/ward      Urology

Charitable Fund         Medical Equipment Fund   

Project description  

The committee approved the acquisition of a diathermy machine for use in the Urology Treatment Centre (UTC).

Diathermy uses electrically induced heat to cut, destroy, or coagulate tissue. In urology, diathermy can destroy tumours or infected tissue, treat obstructions, remove tissue for observation and cauterise blood vessels to prevent excessive bleeding.

When tiny papillary recurrences are found in patients we know have low grade bladder disease, these can in the main be dealt with at the time of the flexible cystoscopy. At present these patients have to be relisted for cystoscopy and diathermy to be performed in theatre. Diathermy in the UTC would allow for the surgeons to remove these recurrences in an outpatient setting as part of their routine check cystoscopy. This will save patients time as only one visit will be required to the department and saves them having to have an unnecessary procedure. It also releases theatre time allowing for other procedures to be listed in this space.

Project name              DRS Colour Fundus Camera

Department/ward     Ophthalmology 

Charitable Fund         Medical Equipment Fund   

Project description  

The committee approved the acquisition of a DRS Colour Fundus Camera for use by ophthalmology.

A Colour Fundus camera is used to document, identify and investigate various pathologies ranging from Macular Degeneration, inflammatory eye disease, pigmentary fundus lesions and diabetic retinopathy.

With COVID 19 there is increased demand for photography of this nature as it allows for virtual assessments to be made. Patients only needing to attend in person for scanning, with the clinicians able to assess and diagnose remotely removing the need for the patient to return for a face to face appointment.