Generous legacy leads to state-of-the-art beds at Ipswich Hospital
Earlier this year we wrote about the generous legacy left by local businessman, Bryan Samson, to Ipswich Hospital. Last week Toby Pound, partner at Barker Gotelee solicitors and one of Mr Sampson’s executors, paid a visit to the hospital to find out how much of a difference the gift is making to staff and patients.
Since receiving more than half a million pounds from Mr Sampson’s estate, a major programme has been undertaken to replace the remaining manual beds with the latest state-of-the-art models. So far nearly £300,000 has been spent purchasing 113 new Hill-Rom® electric profiling beds, specialist mattresses and accessories such as IVI poles, traction sets and oxygen cylinder holders.
As well as being more comfortable, the beds are easy-to-use and fully adjustable. They can be controlled by patients, allowing them to sit up, raise their legs or change position, in turn protecting the most vulnerable from skin damage such as pressure ulcers. As they are fully electronic, the beds will also reduce the amount of moving and handling done by staff, in turn minimising the risk of staff developing musculoskeletal problems.
The investment is the first phase of a three-year project to replace the hospital’s remaining 300 Kings Fund manual beds. It has been made possible thanks to the generosity of retired chartered surveyor Bryan Sampson, who was so grateful for the care he received that he left his entire estate of more than half a million pounds to the trust.
Karen Kemp, head of patient safety at the hospital, said: “We are incredibly grateful that this recent legacy has started our programme to replace our remaining manual beds with the very latest models.
“These specialist beds and mattresses will enable patients to be nursed on the most-up-to-date equipment which is more comfortable, promotes independence and will help protect the most vulnerable from skin damage.
“Mr Sampson’s generous gift will have a positive impact on hundreds of patients and our staff for many years to come.”
Laurence Collins, chairman of Ipswich Hospital’s Charitable Funds Committee, said: “Mr Sampson’s legacy will enable us to provide significantly better comfort and safety for our patients and staff.
“Legacies such as this make such a difference to what the hospital charity can achieve, and we are ever grateful for such donations, however large or small.”
(L – R) Ipswich Hospital’s moving and handling advisor Kathie Scott, Toby Pound from Barker Gotelee Solicitors (an executor of Bryan Sampson’s will), moving and handling advisor Julie Price, hospital charity officer Anna Stollery, patient safety lead nurse Karen Kemp, charity officer Jessica Watkins, director of nursing Lisa Nobes and Ryan Colclough from Hill-Rom.
