Patients at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) are set to benefit from nearly £72,000 in grants awarded by the Friends of West Suffolk Hospital charity, thanks to community donations, legacies, and the Friends’ shop.

The funding is supporting staff across WSFT, with clinical teams applying for grants to enhance patient care. The critical care outreach team (CCOT), which helps patients whose condition is deteriorating, received £17,858 to buy five Airvo machines.

Head of nursing for CCOT, Julie Head, explained:
“These new machines have been a huge support to our team. They deliver humidified oxygen to patients, and can reduce the need for invasive ventilation, which makes oxygen therapy more tolerable. The Airvos also deliver oxygen through nasal tubes instead of a mask, meaning patients can eat, drink, talk, and move around more easily, improving their quality of life while in hospital.”

Julie added that as well as improving patient outcomes, the machines enhance efficiency for the team, making them an invaluable resource.

Deputy senior nurse for critical care outreach and resuscitation, Diogo Torre, said:
“We are so grateful to the Friends for their support. The grant has already had an incredible impact on our patients.”

The Friends have also awarded a £1,400 grant to improve the experience of local people who volunteer to support the Trust’s nationally and internationally recognised clinical research programme. In 2023–24, almost 1,000 patients took part in research trials to help improve patient safety, care and healthcare transformation.

Lead research nurse Lisa Wood said:
“With the grant we have been able to buy a new phlebotomy chair, desk and a research iPad for use in our clinics or in the emergency department to facilitate consent, random selection and questionnaires. These items greatly benefit our trial patients, who give up their time to volunteer. It is nice to reward this in a small way by making the space more welcoming. Thank you to the Friends for this generous donation.”

As well as donations and legacies, the Friends’ funds are boosted by profits from their hospital shop, which is open Monday to Friday and staffed by volunteers, many of whom have given their time for decades. The shop also operates an online service for inpatients, visitors and loved ones unable to attend in person, offering same-day delivery to wards for orders placed before 11am.

The Friends of West Suffolk Hospital Online Shop provides gifts, snacks, toiletries, mobility aids and electrical goods such as chargers, helping patients and their families stay connected and supported.