With the help of two supporters, Kingston Hospital Charity has funded the purchase of two specialist tilt-in-space wheelchairs to help patients with neurological conditions to sit out of bed every day and do tasks that matter to them.
Sitting patients out of bed every day not only prevents hospital acquired muscle deconditioning but also results in greater independence, improved quality of life, reduced incidents of falls, pressure ulcers and hospital acquired infections. Most importantly, it ensures patients get home sooner from hospital.
The specialist wheelchairs have adjustable and movable parts to support a patient with reduced function to still be supported in sitting out of bed and will be used in Kingston Hospital’s elderly care and specialist medical wards.
Sarah Barden, Kingston Hospital’s Inpatient Occupational Therapy Lead said:
“The Occupational Therapy Department would like to say a huge thank you to Kingston Hospital Charity for enabling us to acquire these new tilt-in-space wheelchairs. We believe that the ability to take part in basic daily activities begins with the appropriate support to do so. These specialist chairs give the patients who need greater postural support , an opportunity to be more independent and be able to engage with tasks that matter to them, while still being in hospital.”
Occupational Therapist Marjorie Arpon added:
“Having a tilt-in-space wheelchair for our specialist medicine wards has been very useful because we no longer need to wait and hire one from an external company or borrow from another ward who may also need it.”
In addition to the two tilt-in-space wheelchairs, Kingston Hospital Charity has funded 50 specialist recliner chairs to date, in support of the hospital’s strategy to ensure every medically fit patient can sit out of bed every day.
If you are interested in supporting new technology and developments at Kingston Hospital, please call 020 8973 5040