Equipment provided by generous grants from the Friends of the West Suffolk Hospital charity is now being used on wards and in community services run by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT), enhancing care for patients.
A total of £44,597 was awarded by the charity from the 2025 grants process, with sums from under £100 to more than £12,000 supporting care in 20 areas of the Trust’s services. Among equipment provided are a specialist screw removal kit for the Day Surgery Unit; a scope supporting vital training in the neonatal department; and walking frames that are helping therapists assess and support patients’ mobility.
The largest sum donated by the Friends this year was £12,374, to provide an Operace Broke Screw Removal Set for the Day Surgery Unit (DSU) at the West Suffolk Hospital.
With the advancement of trauma surgery, clinicians need to remove outdated metal work to facilitate other surgeries. In children as they grow, these implants need to be removed. The kit provides a foolproof method to ensure that no matter what challenges the team are faced with, they will have a solution to aid in the care of patients now and in the future.
Speaking on behalf of the Day Surgery Unit orthopaedic team, Gemma Salt, care practitioner, said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Friends of West Suffolk Hospital for their generous donation.
“These instruments significantly enhance our service, allowing us to deliver more efficient and effective surgical care. Most importantly, having high-quality specialised equipment available reduces surgical time, supports surgical accuracy and minimises risk in both elective and trauma surgery.”
This equipment was put to good use in the first week of May, to manage an issue that could have delayed care to a patient, allowing the planned procedure to be completed.
Another of the grants provided allowed the Trust’s neonatal team to purchase a video laryngoscope for training. The equipment allows for better visibility when intubating and means that neonatal colleagues can practice intubation as required.
Dilshad Marikar, paediatric consultant, said: “On behalf of the neonatal team I would like to thank you all for your kind donation. This is helping us to prepare and train for the crucial procedure of intubation in critically unwell babies by allowing us to practice regularly at any time - something that we have not been able to do before.”
The grants also funded ten walking frames for patients to use on the wards, allowing patients who usually use a walking frame to get up and walk around without having to wait for one to be delivered. This supports recovery and independence faster, which is a great benefit to patients.
Physiotherapy service lead Helen Stewart said: “The 10 red walking frames allow patients who are normally mobile with a frame at home to be up and about on the wards straight away, avoiding delay and further loss of strength, balance, and mobility.
“This has a big impact on the flow of patients through the Trust, enabling timely discharge. Thanks again for the generosity of Friends of WSH.”
Chief executive Dr Ewen Cameron said: “Every day across the Trust we can see the true value of these generous grants, in enhancing patient care and helping our colleagues to provide a good experience to those who need our services. We are grateful to the Friends of the West Suffolk Hospital for all their hard work and compassion, and also to the many people in our community whose continuing generosity show how much the work of our Trust is valued.”
The funds that allow the Friends to make their annual grants come from donations and legacies, and also from the profits of the Friends Shop in the West Suffolk Hospital, staffed by volunteers. As well as the hospital shop – carrying everything from nightdresses to sweets – the charity also runs an online shop delivering to the wards.