4 May 2018

Cough assist machine donated to help critical care patients

A cough assist machine, which clears secretions or ‘phlegm’ from the lungs of respiratory compromised patients, who are unable to produce an effective cough, has been generously donated to the Critical Care Unit at Eastbourne DGH, by a former patient and his family who raised £4,500 through donations.

Barry and Loraine West with Critical Care Matron Sylvia Harris and team

Barry and Loraine West with Critical Care Matron Sylvia Harris and team

Barry West, from Uckfield, spent seven months in the past year as a patient on the critical care unit. Barry said: “I would like to thank everyone at the hospital for their care and support, especially the wonderful team in critical care. From my time and experience in critical care I know this machine will be life changing for patients on the unit.”

Critical Care Matron, Sylvia Harris said: “On behalf of the critical care unit and our patients we would like to thank Barry, his wife Loraine and their family very much. This machine will help speed the recovery of patients who have a weakness from being ventilated, helping them to be able to produce an effective cough by clearing their airway.”