A generous donation means high risk patients needing surgery on their arms or legs will be able to attend County Hospital, Louth, thanks to a new ultrasound machine donated by the League of Friends of the Louth Hospital.
The new state-of-the-art equipment for the theatre department, means certain procedures such as fractures, tendon repairs and joint replacements, can be carried out more effectively and at Louth for those who are high risk.
Alan Greef, Operating Department Practitioner, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to the League of Friends. This new machine will be used for patients needing upper and lower limb surgery who can’t have general anaesthetics due to being high risk. We can now give them regional anaesthetic to numb their arm or leg before carrying out the procedure, while being assisted by the machine. It will make our work easier, the images much better quality and high risk patients won’t have to go elsewhere for the procedure.”
Most of the funds for the ultrasound were raised through the Puss in Boots pantomime at Louth Hospital Social Club at the beginning of the year, which raised several thousand pounds. The rest came from recent generous donations from local business and community groups, and customers at the League of Friends’ Coffee Shop, based within the hospital.
Barbara Boobyer, said: “We are very grateful for all donations received and our many customers at our coffee shop and trolley service.”
Presenting the new ultrasound to Mr Greef and Dr Padhiyar, Consultant Anaesthetist and Head of Service, at the hospital was Chair of the League of Friends, Barbara Boobyer, Betty Barker, Nancy Cartwright and Gilligan Mann (nee Boobyer).