Tower and Town, February 2020

  (view the full edition)

News From Savernake Hospital

Janet Louth and Pat Harper, Co-Chairmen, report on the work of Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community in 2019

This past year has seen Ailesbury Ward split into two units – a medical unit (Ailesbury) and a rehabilitation unit (Chestnut Unit). Following a £900 grant for the purchase of physiotherapy stairs, the Friends quickly followed this up with a further grant of £2,600 for the purchase of a variety of much-needed rehabilitation/exercise equipment and dementia assistance equipment early this year.

With the additional equipment, patients on Chestnut Unit are able to manage their own care more quickly – making their breakfast, getting dressed independently and even helping with the bed-making. The aim is to support the patients where they need assistance, but otherwise to encourage independence. The approach has been successful, with 11 patients being discharged in November. Discharged patients leave messages on the ‘chestnut tree’ – touching and inspirational comments, full of gratitude to the wonderful hospital staff.

Both units enjoy art sessions, which included creating a poppy wall and poppy artwork for Remembrance Day. Ailesbury Ward would be delighted to hear from volunteers who would like to help with these art sessions – and to spend time with patients, particularly those suffering from dementia, who benefit so much from a one to one chat.

The Friends have also supported the setting up of a Learning and Development Hub for nursing staff on Ailesbury Ward which includes a permanent simulation training room where apprentice nurses and trained clinicians can practise and refresh their skills. We thank the volunteers who run the hospital Shop, for taking the trolley shop up to Ailesbury Ward each weekday and for all their baking and craft-making for raffles. Thank you also to our fellow trustees. Thank you to those who have made donations over the past year which allow us to continue to support the work of our local health professionals and the services they provide. The grants we have been able to make this year total £29,659.50.

A grant of over £4,500 from the Friends has assisted with the purchase of laptops, an intravenous arm, a mannikin, catheterisation models, anatomical charts and furniture. The hub will attract new recruits and support long-term nursing staff on-site.

Out in the community

In March the Friends provided a vital lifeline of £4,440 to Arts Together for its Wellbeing Service in Marlborough and Pewsey, after it was threatened with closure due to lack of funding. Since 2000, Arts Together has worked with frail older people in rural Wiltshire, providing art projects spread over 30 sessions a year. The Wellbeing Service enables its members to attend and participate, and to enjoy a home-cooked meal together.

Other grants made by the Friends this year have included funding towards the Pewsey Community Area Partnership’s purchase of two Raizer chairs for Community First Responders (CFRs). The Raizer chairs enable a single CFR - attending a call to tend to an elderly person who has had a fall but is uninjured – to help that person to their feet safely without needing an ambulance to be called out.

Other grants have included funding of equipment for local surgeries, and grants to the Community Nurse Team and Cotswold House based at Savernake Hospital.

Supporting Brighter Futures

The Friends have just pledged £10,000 towards Brighter Futures’ “Better Births Appeal” for new equipment for the Maternity Department at Great Western Hospital, including mobile foetal heart monitors, variable height cots and a new birthing bed.

A word of thanks

We must thank the Friends’ volunteers who run the hospital Shop, for taking the trolley shop up to Ailesbury Ward each weekday and for all their baking and craft-making for raffles. Thank you also to our fellow trustees. Thank you to those who have made donations of £29,950 over the past year which allow us to continue to support the work of our local health professionals and the services they provide.

If any of you would be interested in joining our team of volunteers, or joining the committee, we would be delighted to hear from you: email info@friendsofsavernake.org or 01672 288167.