Breathe Easy group donates Pulse Oximeters to RD&E’s Respiratory Department

The Exeter and East Devon Breathe Easy group has donated two brand new Pulse Oximeters to the Respiratory Outpatients Department at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to help support patients who have lung conditions.

The new pieces of portable equipment will be used both at the RD&E and out in the community to monitor patient’s oxygen saturation levels.

The local support group, who meet regularly in Clyst St George, provide advice and support to patients who are living with respiratory problems and their families. With over 200 members, they meet once a month to for informative talks and events, and are supported by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) as its parent charity.

The group maintain close links with the RD&E and decided that they would like to support their local hospital with their recent fundraising.

Wendy Clarke, Chairperson of the Exeter and East Devon Breathe Easy group and a retired RD&E Respiratory Nurse, and group Secretary Kate Hill, recently visited the RD&E to hand over the new Pulse Oximeters and to hear more about how it will help patients and staff.

Wendy said: “Having worked within the Respiratory Nurse Specialist team for many years I am very aware of how useful this equipment is and we are very pleased to be able to donate it.”

RNS Matron Chervonne Chamberlain added: “Pulse Oximeters are an essential part of our work as we undertake many oxygen assessments. We often have to visit different ward areas across the hospital as well as undertaking home visits so it is wonderful that we now have additional machines. With a big Respiratory Nurse team we have sometimes been limited by numbers of available portable machines so this donation will be gratefully appreciated.”

For more information about Breathe Easy Support Groups please visit the British Lung Foundation website www.blf.org.uk

Pictured, left to right: Wendy Clarke, Chairperson of the Exeter and East Devon Breathe Easy group; Grace Connett, Nursing Assistant; Chervonne Chamberlain, RNS Matron; Kate Hill, group Secretary; Sarah Lines, Respiratory Nurse Specialist; and Jo Marks-Chadwick, Respiratory Nurse.