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First in the country!
Written by Communications Team   

The intensive care unit at the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust is first place in an NHS acute hospital to have installed the latest technology bringing Heliox piped gas to a patient’s bed space.
 
Until now the 79% helium and 21% oxygen has been delivered from gas cylinders. It is used specifically for patients with respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or acute asthma. The Heliox combination causes less trauma to the lungs of these patients than the 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen found in normal air.
 
Two new state-of-the-art ventilators, for use with the piped gas, were donated to the intensive care unit (ITU) by the St. Peter’s Hospital League of Friends on Tuesday. (03-03-09)

 


When this ventilator, and one other are connected-up they will bring piped Heliox to intensive care patients at St. Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, the first NHS hospital in the country to do so. Pictured here (left to right) are: Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Barry Sellick, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman Aileen McLeish and Chairman of the St. Peter’s Hospital League of Friends who funded the £60,000 equipment.

 
Said Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Barry Sellick: “The League of Friends have very kindly offered to donate two “Maquet Servo i” ventilators worth £60,000. This equipment, commonly known as “life support machines” will ensure the very best standards of care for the sickest patients within the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust.
 
“The new machines, which replace two older machines, will be equipped with the latest technology which allows us to utilise the newly piped gas, Heliox. As the first ITU in the country to have this gas piped, we are leading the way in this area.” 
 
The gas is brought to the bed space via a drop-down system from the ceiling. The six-month installation was a joint project between the Trust and BOC and already, before going “live”, it has attracted interest from other NHS Trusts.
                                                                                                               
Apart from these two new machines the 9-bed ITU also has five of the most modern ventilators available and two additional ventilators.
 
Added Dr Sellick: “This has not only been a successful project involving the Friends, Trust management and the medics but it has also ensured that our highly trained intensive care staff are given the best equipment to work with for the benefit of our patients. We are very grateful to all concerned.”
 
Footnote: The Intensive Care Unit served 481 patients in 2008.