‘State-of-the-art’ chest compression equipment for emergency department

Patients in cardiac arrest are set to benefit from brand new technology at Poole Hospital thanks to a local charity.

(Pictured L-R): Janine Golding, community fundraiser for Poole Hospital Charity; Bruce Hopkins, matron, emergency and urgent care; Sir Christopher Lees, Talbot Village Trust; Dr Gary Cumberbatch, clinical director, emergency and urgent care; Mark Mould, chief operating officer

The hospital’s emergency department (ED) has received a LUCAS machine from a £6,000 grant from the Talbot Village Trust. The team made the application with the support of the hospital’s charity.

Currently, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is delivered manually for a maximum of two minutes requiring a high amount of physical effort to sustain continuous, effective CPR during a prolonged cardiac arrest. After two minutes, a change of staff is required which leads to an interruption in CPR.

The LUCAS machine provides patients who are in cardiac arrest with consistent and high-quality chest compressions for extended periods of time. The machines improve CPR quality and increase chest compression fraction time both in the hospitals and during transport throughout the entire resuscitation.

Prolonged CPR is often required as a result of drowning, for hypothermic patients in cardiac arrest and when thrombolysis has been given to a pulmonary embolism, all of which can require up to 90 minutes of CPR.

Last year there were 90 cardiac arrests in the hospital.

Dr Gary Cumberbatch, clinical director, emergency and urgent care said: “Thank you so much to Talbot Village Trust for this state-of-the-art device, it really is going to make such a difference to our patients.

“It will also take some of that physical pressure off staff meaning that we can provide even better care to the patient who is receiving the treatment.”

Commenting on the donation, Bruce Hopkins, matron, emergency and urgent care, added: “This machine is a great addition to the amazing resuscitation team we already have here at the hospital - it’s a fantastic piece of equipment and will help so many local people.”

Sir Christopher Lees, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, added: “There was an immediate need for Poole Hospital to own this specialist equipment, to continue delivering the exceptional level of care that patients receive at the hospital.

“We are pleased to have provided this grant and ensure the long-term care of our communities.”

Janine Golding, community fundraiser for Poole Hospital Charity, said: “The charity is extremely grateful to the Talbot Village Trust and looks forward to a continued partnership with them.”

This life saving, innovative equipment is above and beyond what the NHS can provide. Poole Hospital Charity exists to complement and enhance the high level of care already available in the hospital.