The fantastic fundraising efforts of people in the Harrogate area has helped Harrogate District Hospital install a second piece of equipment which pharmacy staff use to prepare vital chemotherapy drugs for patients in the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre.
Just over £22,000 has been raised which means the team in Pharmacy Aseptics has been able to buy a second Chemotherapy Isolator. This allows them to be safer and more efficient, especially at busy times, and make sure the treatments are ready well in advance of them being needed.
The Aseptic Unit in the Pharmacy Department supports staff in the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre by preparing chemotherapy drugs in a sterile environment in a ready to administer form for the nurses to give.
Treatment can now be ready for patients in a more timely manner as workload can be shared between two operators. This also means that repetitive strain injuries are less likely to occur as session times are now shorter.
Newly trained staff can now work independently with the knowledge that someone else is in the room should they need assistance. If a problem were to develop with one of the isolators, then the team still has the second isolator to use to ensure the service continues with minimal disruption to patient care until the problem can be rectified.
Rebecca Ventress, Lead Pharmacist in Aseptic Services at Harrogate District Hospital, said:
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated to the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre Charitable Fund enabling us to have a second chemotherapy isolator to improve the service we provide to patient’s having chemotherapy at the Centre.
We’re really pleased that our service has been acknowledged in this way. Many people don’t know too much about us, perhaps because a lot of what we do happens behind the scenes, but we provide a vital service for patients as well as supporting our colleagues who do provide direct patient care. This extra piece of equipment is making a huge difference already.
The money for the equipment was raised through Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity. It provides funds for specialist equipment, training and services, going above and beyond what can be provided by the NHS, to continually improve treatment and facilities for patients and staff. Without the support of fabulous donors and fundraisers, it would not be able to fund equipment such as the Chemotherapy Isolator.
If you would like to get involved in fundraising for Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity or make a donation, please visit www.hdft.nhs.uk/hhcc or call on 01423 555641.
