Two thousand new babies are delivered every year at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with over 50% of deliveries requiring the assistance of an anaesthetist.

The anaesthesia service in the maternity department was until recently, partly dependent on the availability and loan of equipment from another part of the hospital to support their work. An ultrasound machine for anaesthetic use was urgently needed for in the Maternity department at the Countess of Chester Hospital to streamline patient care and improve safety.

The Countess Charity needed the funds for this and contacted the Ursula Keyes Trust. The Ursula Keys Trust is a long-standing supporter of the charity, having funded the Ursula Keyes Breast Care Centre at the hospital, opened in May 2003, and for other medical equipment donated since. The Trust was happy to help and donated the full funds required of over £30,000. Trustees were able to see the machine in action recently at the maternity unit and wish staff well following a demonstration of the machine’s advanced features.

Having their own designated ultrasound machine now allows for timely and safer identification of spine anatomy prior to epidural or spinal insertion, for insertion of peripheral intravenous, arterial and central venous lines in critical and unwell patients and for nerve blocks for analgesia. Ultimately, the equipment will improve patient safety and contribute towards greater patient satisfaction with the service.

Consultant Anaesthetist and Clinical Lead for Obstetric Anaesthesia, Dr Jo Fawkner-Corbett said;

“We are immensely grateful to the Ursula Keyes Trust for donating this Sonosite ultrasound machine to the obstetric anaesthesia department. It has had an immediate impact on the quality of care we provide to our maternity patients, allowing us to enhance both safety and precision of anaesthetic management. On behalf of the anaesthetic team here at the Countess, I would like to thank the Ursula Keyes Trust for their kindness and generosity.”

Head of Fundraising for the Countess Charity, Angie Lopez said;

“This donation of funds to the Countess Charity has enabled us to purchase additional items for our staff that will make a real difference for our patients. The Ursula Keyes Trust has been key in supporting the Countess on many occasions for which we are truly grateful. We would also like to wish the Ursula Keyes Trust a happy 40th year of making a difference in our community.”

John Brimelow, Chair of Trustees at the Ursula Keyes Trust, added;

“Staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital go above and beyond to do amazing work for its patients and the community served. Ursula Keyes Trust is happy to continue to support this work by providing this grant to enable the purchase of the state-of-the-art ultrasound machine. We’ve seen it in action and know it will be a real asset for the region’s maternity patients.”

Former Breast and Paediatric consultant surgeon at the centre, Elizabeth Redmond, now a Trustee of the Ursula Keyes Trust, added;

“This is an important way the Ursula Keyes Trust can make a difference to the community and quality of life in the City. We are proud to be able to support this project which will help anaesthetists in the obstetric unit undertake their work but above all it will benefit patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital.”

The Ursula Keyes Trust was established in 1985 as the legacy of a prominent Chester resident. The Trust supports the financial needs of various organisations and individuals in the Chester area, particularly in health and social care.  Funds are mainly directed at the cost of capital projects and equipment rather than on-going running costs or salaries. One of the largest projects by the charity is the Ursula Keyes Breast Care Centre at the Countess of Chester Hospital. More information at www.ursula-keyes-trust.org.uk