University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is delighted to have funded two new pieces of innovative equipment at Royal Bournemouth Hospital to enhance the early rehabilitation for patients that are critically unwell.
At the start of the year, the Stroke team received their new robotic tilt table costing £80,500 that was funded with the help of generous supporters across Dorset. NHS therapy teams were trained on how to use this new piece of innovative equipment that they identified as instrumental in enhancing the options for early rehabilitation in patients in their care.
The robotic tilt table helps patients that are bed-bound and very weak that may have suffered severe neurological damage from a stroke, a spinal injury from road traffic accidents for example.
By enabling robotic leg movements for patients who do not have the ability to move them, patients can start to re-learn to use their own limb movements to try to walk again. A previous tilt table was used to help patients, but the robotic version is now giving that extra helping hand for those that are particularly unwell.
Patients who are bed-bound are safely strapped into the device and robotic leg movements begin whilst the table is slowly raised to a vertical position. The robotic tilt table allows safe physical therapy in a very early stage of rehabilitation, reducing the amount of time patients will need to spend in hospital.
Funding for this fantastic piece of equipment came from the kind donations of people who have seen first-hand the support needed by the therapy teams for their loved ones and Talbot Village Trust who generously provided a grant of £15,000 last year.
Senior Charity Manager, Karen Smith said: “We’re thrilled to see this equipment already helping so many patients. It is being used on a number of wards as our stroke services from Poole Hospital have moved over to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. It’s slim and movable design enables staff to take this equipment anywhere.”
Not stopping there, Talbot Village Trust also generously donated £11,501 towards a BEMO 636 Theratrainer. This is an over-bed or bedside bike to provide physiotherapists with a safe solution for early rehabilitation from a patient’s bedside while they are in critical care.
Our physiotherapy teams will be able to assist a range of patients who are acutely unwell in critical care with early mobilisation with this bed bicycle to support ongoing rehabilitation.
The BEMO Theratrainer will help to reduce the risks associated with the range of movement for joints (stiffness, contracture) and with some patients seeing improvements in their psychological experience within the Intensive Care Unit or Critical Care Unit.
Physiotherapist, Luke Pickard said: “Implementing the BEMO as part of our regular treatments would assist earlier discharge from ICU and subsequently hospital settings. Regular movement and steps towards progress supports people to cope a little more positively as they set their therapy related goals.”
Patients can use this to improve strength in their arms, legs and improve their cardiovascular performance. For a range of patients who are unable to actively participate this piece of equipment will be able to passively exercise their joints, muscles and other tissues.
Early mobilisation for patients in acute wards is especially important to try to avoid general weakness and deconditioning, rapid fatigue, and soft-tissue damage from being in bed for sustained periods of time.
For some patients, this bike also means they can do a little bit of exercise without the need for a slot with the therapy team as the overbed bike can be used by the patient alone as it causes minimal physical strain. This is particularly helpful for patients that can’t be without supervised care and in times of short staffing as it provides some patients with a progressive activity to do.
Nick Ashley-Cooper, Chairman at Talbot Village Trust said; “We are glad to assist University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity in securing this equipment to support early rehabilitation. Both pieces of equipment will make a difference in patients’ recovery and contribute to their wellbeing.”
Senior Charity Manager, Karen Smith added: “We are extremely grateful to Talbot Village Trust for generously funding this second fantastic piece of equipment to help kick start people’s progress to greater mobilisation and subsequent steps to recovery. Additional items like this are beyond NHS funds but we know can make life-changing differences to people’s recovery. This equipment can have such a positive impact on a patient’s emotional wellbeing during the times they are most unwell. Raising funds to provide the added extras like this is what our charity is here for, and we continue to raise funds to support our hospitals and thousands of patients each year.”
“The BEMO Theratrainer is on order and we’re looking forward to its arrival in the coming months for our patients.”