Patients sitting comfortably on new Critical Care Chairs

Thanks to the kind donations of patients and relatives, the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB), along with the generous support from Care Med Healthcare, have been able to purchase 12 brand new patient chairs.

The chairs, costing £35,000, are sourced with the unique requirements of the critically ill patient in mind. They recline to almost 180 degrees, allowing patients to be transferred from bed to chair easily, simply by removing the arms. The chairs are light and easy to move, meaning that they can be quickly manoeuvred to reach the patients who need them the most, and are ideally suited to the fast-paced Critical Care environment.

Joanne Thompson, Matron on CCU explained: “Although we have always had chairs available for patients, these are state-of-the-art, and will enable critically ill patients to begin early rehabilitation and help to prevent complications such as pneumonia, which these patients especially are vulnerable to. They will make a huge difference to all of our patients and we are really grateful to all those who donated, and to QEHB Charity for supporting us in purchasing them.”

Mike Hammond, Chief Executive of the Charity said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Care Med Healthcare and all the donors who have raised a staggering amount of money, allowing CCU to provide their patients with the best possible equipment. At the Charity, we think it is essential that we work closely with staff throughout QEHB, as they are the ones who see patients every day and truly understand what it is that they need.”

If you’d like more information about how QEHB Charity supports patients, please go to www.qehb.org or call 0121 371 4852.