Staff from Harrogate District Hospital will be taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for new equipment.

Team ICU has set a fundraising target of £13,500 for the hospital’s intensive care unit, including a new MRI ventilator.

Eve Geldart, lead critical care nurse in the ICU, told the Stray Ferret how important the equipment is:

“As a service that is required to provide urgent lifesaving treatments to patients, it is important that we are able to perform specialised investigations like MRI in a timely manner.

“Currently, we would need to transfer intensive care patients to another hospital to get an MRI as we don’t have the specialised equipment that is needed to monitor and support their breathing during the test.

“An MRI compatible ventilator and patient monitoring system will allow us to provide this investigation for our patients at Harrogate District Hospital for the first time ever.”

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The National Three Peaks Challenge involves tackling the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in just 24 hours.

Beginning at Ben Nevis in Scotland on 3 October, the team will cover a total distance of 23 miles, with an ascent of 3064 metres.

After taking on Scafell Pike in England, the team will finish their challenge the next morning by climbing Snowdon, in Wales, just before sunrise.

Sammy Lambert, who is taking part in the challenge, said:

“I’m excited to be taking part in the National Three Peaks challenge and can’t wait to start training and fundraising to raise vital funds, going above and beyond the provision of the NHS!

“Three years ago I had a horrendous injury and dislocated both my ankles.

“Following surgery to get me back on the road to recovery, I’m looking forward to this challenge and hoping to stay upright!”

To find out more and to donate click here

Harrogate District Hospital’s intensive care unit has completed a £1 million refurbishment.

The 12-week refurbishment has increased capacity, meaning the unit can now care for 11 patients rather than 10, and created a better environment.

Ross Stewart, a patient on the unit for many weeks in 2020 pre-covid, returned today to cut a ribbon before patients were transferred back in.

The unit was stripped down to its shell and rebuilt. Five of the 11 beds now have their own side rooms.

The hospital’s experience of the pandemic shaped the new design. For instance, the side rooms help to contain infections.

The unit has new TVs, flooring, ceilings and doors. Wall cladding and dimmable lights have been installed, and there are wall murals and LED ceiling panels featuring blue skies, clouds and trees in two of the side rooms.

The more open design means nurses can see all the patients from their station.

Daylight, open space and a clean feel are key features of the new design.

The last 12 months have been unprecedented for hospital staff. ICU staff have been caring for numbers never seen before.

Intensive care consultant Dr Sarah Marsh said:

“This has gone above and beyond what we could have expected. It’s not just about surviving it’s about giving that survivorship some quality and the environment in the ICU plays a huge part in that.

“Something as simple as having more natural light and dimmable lights is very important for the patients. The unit will really help to improve patients’ outcomes for sure.”

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The increase in patients due to covid forced the unit to relocate into a larger ward, which presented the opportunity to refurbish the unit without disturbing patients.

The Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity donated some of the funds for the work, which enabled a relatives’ room to offer a pull-down bed for relatives to stay in.