Donations to the SMILE fund – St Mary’s Immediate and Long-term Equipment fund

Thank you for your kind donations to the SMILE fund -St Mary’s Immediate and Long-term Equipment fund

We have recently purchased a replacement centrifuge from the SMILE fund.

A centrifuge is used to spin blood samples prior to being transported to the pathology laboratories at Addenbrookes Hospital. Some blood samples can be damaged by extremes of temperature or a prolonged time from blood draw time to analysis in the laboratory. This can be a particular problem when undertaking renal function blood tests where we may get artificially raised potassium levels. A raised potassium level could put a patient at increased risk of heart arrhythmia so we generally centrifuge these samples before sending to Addenbrookes to ensure we get a more accurate result. Most days our health care assistants take over 100 blood samples so it is important we have two functioning centrifuges. 

Our nursing team have requested a new Doppler to aid the care of patients with potential peripheral vascular disease and the cost of this is in the region of £3500. 

A Doppler ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to measure the amount of blood flow through a patient’s arteries and veins, usually those that supply blood to the legs, comparing systolic blood pressure at the ankle with that in the arm. Vascular flow studies, also known as blood flow studies, can detect abnormal flow within an artery or vein. The purpose of all ABPI testing is to assess the strength of the arterial blood flow at the ankle.

All patients with a lower limb wound – but particularly a leg ulcer – should undergo ABPI testing, as should patients who are considered to be at high risk (e.g. due to diabetes or immobility) or presenting with lower limb-related changes.

If you would like to donate to the SMILE fund please contact our assistant practice manager Becky Taylor on 01353 663434