St Thomas Masons donate Spirometer to Bolham Ward

Patients on Bolham Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are set to benefit from a new mobile machine to measure lung function thanks to a £500 donation by the St Thomas Masonic Lodge.

The Lodge made the donation after being made aware of the efforts of Barbara and David Tilbury, who have been fundraising for the Bolham Ward Trust Fund over the last year in memory of their son Patrick who sadly passed away in 2016. 

St Thomas Lodge Worshipful Master Tim Cauldwell, said: “We were made aware of the Tilbury’s appeal by Occupational Therapist Sarah Lonton. At the time, they were fundraising for reclining chairs for the ward, however these have since been purchased and we are more than happy for the ward to use our donation for anything else that would be of most use.” 

The new machine, a digital Spirometer, is used to record how well a patient’s lungs are working by measuring how much air is being inhaled and exhaled. It is used on the neurological ward to regularly monitor patients with degenerative conditions such as motor neurone disease or myasthenia gravis, which can cause difficulties breathing.

The hand-held Spirometer replaces a large and cumbersome mechanical spirometer, which was difficult and unwieldy for some patients to use.

Bolham Ward Matron Anny Willett, explained: “The small and compact electronic spirometer which we have been able to purchase with the Lodge’s very generous donation will be more accurate and much easier for both patients and staff to use. I would like to convey the thanks of the patients and staff of Bolham ward to the St Thomas Lodge and its members and to Mr and Mrs Tilbury for making this donation happen.”

Barbara Tilbury added: “I would personally like to thank the St. Thomas Masonic Lodge, for their generosity in helping me with this appeal, especially their Charity Steward for all of his help - I know what a difference it will make to Anny and her team to have their own instrument.”

Pictured: Staff on Bolham Ward take a look at the new Spirometer with St Thomas Lodge Worshipful Master Tim Cauldwell (second from right).