Safer transfers for sick patients at Scarborough Hospital

A brand new specially equipped trolley used to transfer very sick patients from Scarborough Hospital has made a huge difference during the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to funding from York Teaching Hospital Charity.

The trolley arrived at the beginning of March and was immediately in use with the transfer of Covid-19 patients.

Theatres team leader, Claire Jackson, explained why the trolley is so important: “After initial diagnosis critically ill patients may need transferring from Scarborough to other hospitals in the region for further specialist care. The transfer team includes an anaesthetist and an operating department practitioner or an intensive care nurse, and requires a huge amount of equipment - a transportable ventilator, syringe drivers and monitoring equipment to name just a few. We do this in a safe manner by using a specialist trolley.

“The previous trolley was over fifteen years old and with the generous help of York Teaching Hospital Charity we were able to purchase a new one which enables the safe, effective and often time critical transfer of patients when they are seriously ill. The trolley is compatible with ambulances meaning when the team is ready to safely transfer the patient an ambulance crew assist.”

Transfers can occur for many reasons for specialist treatment such as a child to a children’s hospital, burns patients being sent to Pinderfields, head trauma patients to Hull or patients with neurology or cardiac problems to dedicated centres.

29 July 2020