Trolley Shop profits buy equipment for RD&E wards

Patients across the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are benefitting from new pieces of equipment thanks to a £4,000 donation from the Trolley Shop.

The not-for-profit enterprise is run completely by volunteers and offers patients a range of refreshments, toiletries and stationery during its daily ward rounds. Any proceeds made by the Trolley Shop are put into a fund, and once a year, every ward in the hospital is given the opportunity to apply for support from it. The Trolley Shop Volunteers Committee then decides how the money will be distributed.

This year’s fund has been distributed across seven wards to enable the purchase of items to help support care and enhance patient experience.  These included new framed prints for the quiet room on Yeo Ward, freestanding mirrors for Creedy Ward, a freezer for Dart and Lyme Wards and new equipment for the bereavement room on the Acute Medical Unit.

Also benefiting from this year’s donation was Robin Ling Ward, which received a new recliner chair thanks to a donation of £2,500 from the Trolley Shop. The new chair helps orthopaedic patients to get out of bed and sit in a supported position for meals.

Amy Cudmore, Matron on Robin Ling Ward (formerly Tavy Ward), explained: “The new chair makes a big difference to patients who would otherwise remain in bed for longer periods as standard chairs don't have the trunk and arm support that this new chair has.  Without this funding from the Trolley Shop we would not have been able to provide our patients with such a high quality, versatile recliner chair. Many thanks to the Hospital Trolley Shop.”

A further £800 was donated to Okement Ward, to help furnish a new relatives room for patient’s families.

Joy Payne-Hilton, Sister on Okement Ward, said: "The generous donation given to us by the Trolley Shop team has enabled us to transform our Relatives Room into a comfortable and welcoming space for patients and relatives at what is a difficult time for them. It has made such a huge difference to the ward, and it is thanks to their hard work that we have been able to do this."

Trolley Shop Committee Chairman Robert Marshall and Committee members Elizabeth Bullivant and Shirley Churchly recently visited some of the wards to see how their donations are already making a difference.  

Chairman Robert Marshall added: “The main reason that we do this each year is to help the patients. If wards aren’t able to get these items, this is a good opportunity for us to gift things that will be really useful to staff and patients.” 

If you are interested in volunteering with the RD&E Trolley Shop visit www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/patients/help/volunteers.html