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Friends of Airedale fund new assisted lifting devices for hospital

Pictured left to right: Matt Dickinson (manual handling lead), Alison Dixon (Friends of Airedale chair), Vicki Barlow (orthopaedic nurse specialist), Vicki Egan (matron – orthopaedics and endoscopy).

The Friends of Airedale charity is giving local patients a lift - literally - thanks to a £20,000 donation to the hospital.

The Friends have paid for and presented hospital staff with three air inflatable medical mattresses, which are designed to help clinicians safely lift patients weighing up to 500kg from the floor. The multi-layered flat lifting device is easier to use and ‘more dignified’ than a traditional hoist, improving the safety and wellbeing of patients and carers.

Manual handling lead at Airedale, Matt Dickinson said: “Not only will this equipment be invaluable for helping staff practice moving and handling techniques on patients, it will also help keep them safe. Using these devices reduces stress on their bodies when supporting dependent patients from the floor and also enhances the patient experience when they require assistance in any unfortunate scenarios.”

The mattresses have just been delivered and will be assigned to areas of the hospital to care for patients deemed most at risk of falling.

Friends of Airedale chair Alison Dixon said: “We’re delighted to have been able to supply hospital staff with equipment that will help to make a real difference to patients and staff. As a charity we donate between £150,000 to £200,000 worth of equipment and service to the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust each year – but could not do so without the incredible efforts of all our volunteers and fundraisers who work so hard on our behalf.”

Friends of Airedale is a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting Airedale General Hospital by undertaking a number of roles within the hospital and in the community. It also raises money to buy equipment to benefit patients and visitors.

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