New ECG machine for RD&E

Senior Research Nurse Lizze Davey and friend Jemma Marsh have donated an Electrocardiogram (ECG) machine to Okement Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The pair raised £8,000 by completing the London Marathon last year, a total which has been split between funding the ECG machine and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) charity Crohn's and Colitis UK.

Keen runner Jemma initiated the fundraising and asked Lizzie, who works at the RD&E, to join her to complete the 26 mile marathon around central London in April 2014.

After hitting their initial £5,000 fundraising target for Crohn's and Colitis UK, Jemma and Lizzie continued to collect sponsorship money. Both were keen that some of the money should go towards benefitting local causes in Devon, and so they decided to put the extra £3,000 they raised towards buying equipment for their local hospital.

An ECG machine performs an important diagnostic test to measure the electrical activity of the heart. It can allow doctors to see how well the heart is functioning and can help detect heart disorders such as abnormal heart rhythms or heart attacks.

Jemma and Lizzie recently visited Okement Ward, which treats the majority of gastric patients at the RD&E, to hand over their fundraising cheque to Senior Nurse Sally Walker and Sister Barbara Billett. They were joined by members of the RD&E’s Crohn's and Colitis Committee Helen Nutley and Chairman Lisa Colcutt.

Okement Sister Barbara Billett said: “Jemma and Lizzie’s donation of the ECG machine is just wonderful. It will be a dedicated machine for the ward, meaning we can we can perform more rapid diagnosis and assessments if patients need it, and waiting times will be reduced. It is surprising how many patients need use of the machine throughout the day, so we are really grateful for the donation.”

The Crohn’s and Colitis UK Exeter Committee and patient panel are made up of volunteers and offer a support network for people from Exeter and the surrounding areas. They meet at 6pm on the last Thursday of every month at the RD&E’s Outpatients department for a friendly and informal meeting. They regularly undertake fundraising and, in the past, have donated a TV and blue-ray player for the infusion room and funded two new toilets for Okement Ward. 

To find out more about the group you can follow them on Facebook (Crohn’s and Colitis UK Exeter Group Facebook page) or visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk