How donated funds are being used

The KPA continues to use donated funds to help patients with hardship problems and to use funds to the benefit of our patients at The Royal Free Hospital and its satellite units. On behalf of the RFHKPA, I would like to thank everyone who has been kind enough to donate funds to this charity and also a big thank you to those of you who have helped us raise valuable funds.

I am pleased to report that we are providing funds for an extension of the Royal Free Hospital’s Complimentary Therapy Service for dialysis patients. Keith Hunt and his team are already providing massage therapy treatments for patients in dialysis and renal wards. Now the service is going to be offered to patients at our satellite units at Barnet and North Middlesex.

The massage is a calming and gentle treatment and will be endorsed by the medical team at the respective units, by way of referral. Requests for treatment forms are available in the units.

We have purchased a laptop trolley to protect and house a laptop which patients can use to access a multi media interactive education programme called OTIS.

This is a computer tool to help patients prepare for surgery, learn about post transplant medications, potential complications such as rejection and to reinforce the main principles in looking after general patient health and the transplanted kidney.

Patients will be able to access the OTIS programme in the waiting area of the third floor renal unit. Newly transplanted patients will also be able to access information following their operations, whilst recovering on the 10th floor ward.

Mrs. Shaku Wadhwani and her family have kindly donated funds towards the cost of this item, in memory of Rupchand Wadhwani.

Following the purchase of an Ice Dispenser for the renal ward on 10S, we have now purchased another Ice Dispenser, this time for our patients at The North Middlesex satellite unit.

Hopefully, patients will now be a shade “cooler” this summer!

Highgate dialysis patients can now access internet services whilst dialysing. The KPA has managed to re-instate the broadband line at the Highgate satellite unit and patients can now make good use of their time if they choose to utilise this benefit.

The staff at the Mary Rankin satellite unit at St. Pancras Hospital needed a better system to keep patients medical records readily to hand and the KPA have purchased this trolley unit with funds donated by one of the patients at the unit.

During July, we have organised a very successful day trip to Southend. Four coaches took patients, family and guests down to the coast for our annual summer “treat”.

At the end of June, we organised our annual Summer Tea Party for all renal patients (dialysis, transplant and low clearance). The venue was once again the garden rooms and garden at North Bank, Muswell Hill Methodist Church in Muswell Hill. Musical entertainment was provided by salsa band, Coco Express. Food and drinks were plentiful and everyone who attended had a great time.

Thanks to Andy Forbes for his usual fantastic organisation, not only in the “KPA kitchen”, but also for everything that he provides for this event which is always our favourite event of the year.