People We Have Helped

Photo shows Teddy Charity fundraiser Jo Greenall presenting a Laerdal portable suction unit to Jenny Priest, Team Leader of the Children's Community Nurses outreaching from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. This is the third Laerdal the Teds have managed to supply this autumn to the PAH, who cover the M11 corridor from north London to Saffron Walden. The Laerdals are used to help children recovering at home from tracheotomys and other serious throat and breathing conditions.
Jo raised the money through catering for clay pigeon shoots on her land at Sayes Park, Sawbridgeworth, Essex.

A young cystic fibrosis sufferer in Cambridge will benefit from a new type of portable nebuliser which is not only faster but more quiet in operation, thanks to the Teddy Charity. The first photo shows charity trustee Alexi Tingey presenting the equipment to CF Clinical Nurse Specialist Joan Watson (right) and physiotherapist Monica Bono.

Although considerably more expensive than normal models the Pari eFlow Rapid Nebuliser was specially requested by the Children's Community Nurse team because of its advanced features. It is far more compact than conventional nebulisers (see second photo for comparison), about the size of a pocket CD player, and is battery powered so it can be used anywhere. It is faster to set up in operation and is virtually silent, unlike normal units. As a result it is particularly appealing to teenagers, who find the eFlow Rapid much easier to use and far less obtrusive or embarrassing. It also 'frees' them from dependency on a home base, for example if they have an after-school rehearsal.
The unit is supplied with its own battery recharger, with a mains adaptor for use anywhere in the world.
Joan Watson said
"I am convinced this is the way forward for all nebulisers in the future."

The nebuliser filter on the Eflow Rapid needs changing every 6 months at a cost of around £35. The family receiving the unit has agreed to meet this cost out of its Disability Living Allowance.

A recent press cutting from the King's Lynn Citizen following the purchase of six Direct Dial Flowmeters

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Nurses based at the Suffolk West NHS hospital, Bury St. Edmunds, are the first in the country to use an advanced new type of portable pulse oximeter, thanks to the Teddy Charity.
The main purpose of the oximeter is to measure the oxygen levels in the heart and lungs, and because the unit's probe can be simply and gently attached to the end of a finger without intrusion there is no distress to young patients, who can be tested in the familiar surroundings of their own home. One advantage of this latest oximeter from Nellcor is that it maintains an accurate reading from the probe even if the baby or young patient is waving their arms or legs around.
Employed by the Suffolk West Primary Care Trust, the Community Children's Nursing Team at Bury was first formed in 1997, and currently operates the equivalent of three whole time qualified community nurses and one nursery nurse.
Senior Sister and Team Leader Audrey Johnson RSCN, RGN, RM, RHV said

"We have a pretty large territory to cover, namely the whole of West Suffolk and Thetford, plus of course any young patient referred to us who is returning home from London hospitals like Guys and Great Ormond Street. This year we will look after around 100 long-term patients and a further 100 short-term patients, so any advantage technology can give us is very welcome, and we are therefore grateful to the Teddy Charity for helping us out with important equipment that would otherwise be beyond our reach."

The next piece of equipment the Teddy Charity is planning to buy for the Bury-based Children's Community nurses is a portable battery-operated mini-printer, designed for use with the new pulse oximeter, so that a permanent hard copy of the test results can be printed out simultaneously.
The Teddy Charity needs helpers and fundraisers throughout the West Suffolk area to help improve still further community nursing performance for infants and children up to 16.

Bright and previously vivacious Ashleigh was tragically struck down by meningitis and became unable to move or talk, her mind trapped in a paralysed body. Her specialist believed that she still possessed a very active mind and not being able to talk was frustrating her to the point where she nearly died several times.

The Teddy Charity was contacted and bought a Tech/Talk 8 machine, which is a state-of-the-art multi-message device allowing Ashleigh a selection of up to nearly 100 clear audible responses to help her once again communicate with her family, friends and the outside world.

Thank you from Addenbrooke's
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Thank you from Princess Alexandria
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