New state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment is helping to transform the lives of trauma patients at the Leeds Hands Unit

Cor Hutton, 51, had her hands and feet amputated in 2013 when she suffered a nearly fatal bout of acute pneumonia and sepsis.

She was referred to the Leeds Hand Unit under the care of consultant plastic surgeon, Professor Simon Kay OBE at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Cor’s rehabilitation is now being supported by cutting-edge technology to transform her recovery. Known as the PrimusRS BTE, the new kit offers world-class rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Thanks to donations, and generous contributions from The Hobson Charity, the Whitwam Family Charitable Foundations, the EBM Charitable Trust, and the Jack Brunton Charitable Trust, Leeds Hospitals Charity have provided £111,000 to fund the PrimusRS BTE. The kit helps patients improve range of motion and muscle strength, and aides the recovery process by using visualisation techniques from real life scenarios to help patients wash, dress, and write.

Professor Kay transplanted donor hands to Cor, who has been undergoing rehabilitation and recovery at the Leeds Hand Unit.

Joanna Burdon, Occupational Therapist on the unit said: “We are the only provider in the UK for hand and upper limb transplantation at our world leading hand unit. A new piece of kit called PrimusRS BTE, funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, will ensure our world-class status can be sustained by providing state of the art rehabilitation. It means that patients with hand injuries will require less hospital visits and therapy sessions, allowing them to return to normal activities more quickly.”

Esther Wakeman, CEO of the Leeds Hospital Charity said, “Thanks to donations and Gifts in Wills, we’re able to provide the latest technology, like the BTE Primus to support patients like Cor, which will make a huge difference to their recovery. Every year, we provide £6 million in additional funding to support projects across our local hospitals, helping NHS staff provide the best possible care and support to patients.”

The kit is also expected to also be used by the major trauma centre and for lower limb injuries.