Last year, thanks to your donations, Leeds Hospitals Charity provided more than £5,000 for the purchase of an AccuVein Finder. This revolutionary new machine was purchased for use on the gastroenterology wards at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, to specifically support the treatment provided to patients with bowel conditions.

The AccuVein machine is a small device that uses visualisation technology, via infrared light, in order to accurately display the location of a patient’s veins, underneath the skin. This helps NHS staff to quickly and easily find a vein for treatment, without causing undue stress to the patient.  

The device is particularly useful for inflammatory bowel disease patients who often have to undergo an infusion of drugs as part of their treatment plan. Nursing staff can often find it difficult to locate veins in many patients, particularly those who may be elderly or dark-skinned. Having the AccuVein on the ward can save time for staff and make the experience better for the patients.

Staff on ward C5 at Chapel Allerton Hospital, where the device is being used, have reported great benefits since the machine was purchased.

Infusion Nurse Alice Hardman said “The Accuvein really helps me and my colleagues to much more easily find veins, to perform cannulations and draw blood with far less discomfort to patients. I’m fairly new to cannulations so a device like this give me reassurance I can give a great experience to my patients. We’re really grateful to the donors who have helped purchase this device.”

 

The main donors for the purchase of the new machine were the Arnold family from Wakefield who gave £3,500 towards the cost. They were inspired to give to the charity after their daughter Karen was cared for at Chapel Allerton. Karen has suffered from Crohn’s disease for over thirty years and, at one stage, was having to visit the hospital every 8 weeks for a course of intravenous treatment.

 

Karen always found the process of having the treatment quite difficult, as it could often take a really long time for staff to be able to find a suitable vein. She said “I really hope that having the Accuvein on the ward helps other people and means they don’t have to go through what I went through.”