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Friends at Broomfield Hospital kindly donate £10,000 to help purchase equipment to measure limb volume.

Friends at Broomfield Hospital kindly donate £10,000 to help purchase equipment to measure limb volume.

The Friends at Broomfield Hospital have kindly donated £10,000 to help fund a piece of equipment which is used to assess lymphoedema.

Shown in the photo – The Friends at Broomfield Hospital (back row) with Mr Mat Griffiths, consultant plastic surgeon (back row far left), the St Andrews Centre team (front row) and patient Sheila Holland using the Perometer.

On Wednesday, October 18, the perometer was installed at the St Andrews Centre gym and will benefit patients suffering from the chronic condition. The remainder of the almost £23,000 cost was met by the department.

It assists clinicians to measure the swelling of the limb, caused by a collection of fluid in the body’s tissues. The condition develops when the lymphatic system, which helps to fight infection and remove excess fluid, does not work properly. It is often the result of cancer or cancer treatment.

The perometer functions using photosensors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with which the limb is illuminated and scanned. The actual measuring unit is installed in the frame, which is pushed over the limb.

Following staff training, the perometer will now be brought into use.

Mr Mat Griffiths, consultant plastic surgeon, said:
“We are very grateful to the Friends at Broomfield Hospital, who have greatly assisted our fundraising efforts which will benefit patients by allowing our therapist, Annette Palmer, to measure 
limb volumes far more accurately and efficiently than by using a standard tape measure technique.”

 

“The Friends – Supporting your hospital, supporting you”