Fife Health Charity has helped fund the development of a new treatment room within Ward 44 at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
Ward 44 is a 30-bed combined unit specialising in gastro-intestinal and colorectal care. Thanks to a contribution from Fife Health Charity, the ward has developed a new treatment room, which will be used to carry out urgent and routine reviews of patients known to the service.
Establishing the new treatment area has allowed Ward 44 to open Fife’s first Paracentesis Clinic. Paracentesis is a medical procedure used to remove excess fluid from the abdomen, and can be caused by various conditions, including liver cirrhosis, heart failure, infections, or cancers. The procedure can help relieve symptoms like abdominal pain or pressure, and difficulty breathing. The fluid can also be tested to help diagnose any underlying health conditions causing the build-up.
The development of the treatment room has significantly improved both the journey and experience of patients requiring regular paracentesis as they no longer require an overnight stay and are safely discharged home the same day.
Jennifer Louden is the Senior Charge Nurse in Ward 44. She said of the new treatment area: “We are delighted to officially open our new treatment room. Developing the treatment area allows to carry out patient reviews, both for routine patients and those who need to be seen urgently.
“Perhaps even more importantly, we are now able to carry out paracentesis within the new treatment area, which is fantastic. Many of those we see for paracentesis are seen at regular periods and so by carrying out the treatment in a specialist area on the Ward itself, patients can be seen as day-case and can go home safely to recover with their loved ones rather than having to stay in hospital overnight.”
While the cost of the developing the area itself was met by NHS Fife as part of its core business, Fife Health Charity has played a vital role in enhancing the treatment area for the benefit of patients. The charity funded LED ceiling and wall panels to help make the area more pleasant for patients for the duration of their treatment.
Director of Fife Health Charity, Mark McGeachie, said of the charity’s involvement in the project: “The new treatment area in Ward 44 is a really great example of where we as a charity can work in partnership with NHS Fife for the benefit of patients here in the Kingdom.
“The development of the new treatment area was clinically driven, with the purpose of improving the care and treatment available to patients. Fife Health Charity was then able complement those efforts by funding the extra things that help make that care and treatment that little bit easier for those who need them.
“Supporting these types of projects wouldn’t be possible without the kind and generous donations we receive from people across Fife. We are incredibly grateful for this support. Together with our donors and colleagues across NHS Fife, Fife Health Charity is able to fund projects and initiatives that enhance healthcare experiences and make a difference for people and their loved ones.
To learn more about the work of the Fife Health Charity and the projects it has helped support, visit: www.nhsfife.org/fifehealthcharity.
[ENDS]
Images:
Photo 1 - Staff from Ward 44 gather in the new treatment room [DOWNLOAD].
Photo 2 - Image of the new treatment room [DOWNLOAD].
Notes to Editors
Fife Health Charity aims to improve the physical and mental health of the people of Fife, through funding and grants that support projects and initiatives which will benefit the patients, staff and communities supported by NHS Fife. The Charity also gratefully manages all donations received to NHS Fife wards and services and provides grants to benefit patients and staff. In 2023/24, the charity provided over £1M in grants.
