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News & Media

Media Release

Date: 14 October 2021

Further improvements for patients mark Allied Health Professionals' Day at the RUH

Patients at the RUH are set to benefit from a range of new equipment, purchased to mark this year's national Allied Health Professionals' (AHP) Day on Thursday 14 October.

The new kit includes specialist speech and language equipment, acute rehabilitation and recovery equipment, specialist surgical seating for acute rehabilitation, a lung ultrasound for physiotherapy, exercise and measurement equipment and iPads for patient use in groups, practice sessions and trials.

The funding came from Project Ted - a fund set up to celebrate AHP patient services and provided by The Forever Friends Appeal, the hospital's charity.

Funding was provided to the Forever Friends Appeal through the generosity of grateful patients who were cared for by the RUH and by leaving a gift in their Will.

Gina Sargeant, the RUH's Head of Therapies and AHP Lead said: "We are always looking for ways we can improve the experience our patients receive and the new equipment will make a real, positive difference to them and ensure we can continue to provide them with the best possible care and rehabilitation.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported The Forever Friends Appeal by choosing to leave a gift in their Will. This type of giving is extremely important to the hospital as it gives us the flexibility we need to continue to enhance the quality of care for patients, by making improvements, funding new projects and advanced equipment.

"I like to think of our AHPs as Amazing Helpful Professionals, working across many of the specialties at the RUH and in the community too.

"As the AHP Lead at the RUH, it's been a real pleasure to celebrate AHP day with so many of our patients and staff."

AHP Day takes place each year with the aim of improving awareness of the 14 allied health professions and the vital contribution they make to the delivery of high quality care.

The different roles of AHPs include dieticians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, podiatrists, physiotherapists, radiographers, therapeutic radiographers and speech and language therapists.

This year it was a double celebration for the RUH, with the news that Gina will in November take up the role of Regional Chief AHP for the South West, a part-time role she will do alongside her job at the RUH.

"Allied health professionals play a crucial role in the day to day running of the RUH and the local healthcare system and I see first-hand each day the outstanding care they provide to our patients," she said.

"I'm honoured to take on the first south west region's Chief AHP role from next month and will continue to do all I can to further raise the profile of AHPs across the region and their fantastic work."

ENDS

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