GENEROUS donations from The Royal Oldham Hospital League of Friends has enabled a department to purchase a new bladder scanner.

The group, set up specifically to support patients and visitors at The Royal Oldham Hospital, donated £6,500 to the acute medical unit (AMU) to fund a BARD bladder scanner.

The equipment is used to determine bladder volume in patients which is important for evaluating their bladder function.

As the AMU is an acute admissions unit, many of the patients admitted may not be passing urine or enough urine and so it is vital that the scanner is used to prevent any unnecessary catheterisation of patients and therefore reduce any risk of infection.

Matron Kelly Burns, said: “The League of Friends have supported our unit many times and we would like to thank them yet again for their very generous donation which has allowed us to purchase the bladder scanner.”

The AMU is a 48 bed assessment unit for acutely ill adult patients, who have either presented in the emergency department or have been referred directly by their GP. Around 10,390 patients a year are assessed, treated and stabilised on AMU, with most patients discharged within 12 to 24 hours.

Members of The Royal Oldham Hospital League of Friends joined staff on the unit for an official thank you for the donation. They all took part in a bake sale and coffee morning which raised funds towards a dementia corner on the unit.

Alison Brierley, acting practice based educator, said: “As our department is a fast paced busy area for a large part of the day, this can be a little overwhelming for any patients with dementia. We are therefore looking to turn an area which is currently unused into a dementia corner which will be a quiet space.

“We are hoping to put comfortable chairs, a small table and shelving into the space and provide memory boxes, music and an iPad which would be beneficial for patients with dementia.”

If anybody would like to donate money or items please contact Matron Kelly Burns on 0161 656 1092, or alternatively you can call onto the Unit. All donations will be gratefully received.