Examples of grants
Patients
We will consider any request that improves a hospital stay for a patient or makes it easier for them to cope with their illness at home. Examples include but are not limited to:
Grants are routinely made to assist patients with travel costs so that they are able to attend their appointments at the hospital. Assistance can also be provided to help with the cost of travel for family members of inpatients.
Grants are regularly provided for the purchase of furniture and white goods in the home to improve pateints’ wellbeing and quality of life. After rehousing, a grant was made to enable a seriously ill patient to obtain a bed, fridge/freezer and microwave; this has enabled the patient to return home.
iPads or personal computers have been provided to patients who are long term inpatients, or will have limited mobility at home, so that they can use the internet and watch films.
A grant has been made to a patient for the installation of a walk-in shower to replace a bath.
Stair lifts are often provided for patients so that they can return home and continue to access upstairs rooms which maintains their quality of living. Once a request for a stair lift has been approved, we can arrange for the installation very quickly.
Funds towards patients’ convalescence or spending quality time with family. We have enabled a patient to stay at The Grove Hotel in Bournemouth, which specifically cater for those suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Grants for patients to have special days out with family members are also considered often.
Staff
Requests from members of staff seeking funding for training courses and conference attendance will be considered.
A trainee radiographer in the Breast Imaging department has been enabled to finish her training as a result of a grant from the Association.
In the hospital
The fund has provided a grant for the commission of renowned cartoonist, Tom Gauld, to create artwork for the Cystic Fibrosis Units at the Hospital. As patients in this Unit are confined to individual isolation rooms, the artwork is designed to improve the patient experience and has been designed in consultation with patients.
The fund contributed to the costs of publication of a booklet “Graded exercise therapy” – a self help guide for those with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
The fund has made a grant for the purchase of 2 oncology chairs and 2 blood sampling chairs for the Endocrine ward – patients have to spend long periods of time in the department having tests and these chairs will greatly enhance their comfort.
Recently the fund has also purchased chairs and a sofa for the patient Day Room on Ward 4A so that patients have a comfortable and clean environment in which to sit.
The fund has provided funds to the Oncology Therapy department for a Respironics Cough Machine ( a coughing machine which assists patients to clear their chests more easily).
Rahere provides an ongoing grant to the hospital for the provision of bereavement resources, such as books and memory boxes, to support children who have lost a loved one.