Equipment boost for patients

From noise cancelling headphones, to reclining chairs and motorised trollies – the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s King’s Lynn Charity is significantly boosting the experience of patients and staff thanks to funding of more than £12,500.The charity-funded Room for Improvement scheme is designed to support staff to implement initiatives that benefit staff and patients across the hospital worth up to £5,000.Thanks to staff innovative ideas the hospital is now benefiting from:

* Thirty noise cancelling headphones for children and adults to help take some of the stress out of hospital visits.* Six reclining comfortable chairs for the Trust’s Day Surgery Unit.

* Two motorised pharmacy trollies to help improve pharmacy deliveries and reduce the physical burden on staff .The idea of ear-defending headphones came from executive assistant, Beth Stone who suggested it after bringing her four-year-old autistic son to the hospital’s Emergency Department. She said: “In the rush and panic I forgot to bring his ear-defending headphones which he relies on in busy and sensory overloading environments.“For autistic and neurodivergent individuals, the intense and often overwhelming sensory input in a hospital setting can be highly distressing. Investing in noise-cancelling headphones can help manage the sensory processing challenge by significantly reducing loud and disruptive noises.” The Trust’s charity manager, Samantha Taylor, said: “These purchases embody the spirit of this charity-funded scheme, supporting both patients and staff in meaningful ways.”Find out how to support the hospital’s charity appeal by looking on the website www.qehklcharity.co.uk, email the charity team at Charity@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613309.