Success Story: Day Surgery

As part of the new series of success stories I met Dot Paterson who works in the Day Surgery unit at the West Berks Community Hospital. Dot explained how she has been working with the League of Friends for around 20 years with the League providing over £1 million of equipment for the unit.

20 years ago, Dot was charged with setting up the new Day Surgery Unit in the new hospital. The League of Friends told Dot they wanted to help make this the best equipped Day Surgery unit available. 

A wide variety of equipment has been provided over the years for every type of specialism ensuring the unit has the most up to date technology enabling Dot and her colleagues to provide excellent care for their patients.

Specialist equipment provided in the first year included new devices for orthopaedic, plastic and podiatric surgery. In subsequent years more equipment was purchased for gynaecology, endoscopy and more.

When a second endoscopy room was added to the unit the League spent over £100,000 to equip the room with a modern endoscopy ’stack’, comprising all of the cameras and scopes needed to provide the service.

By equipping the unit with the best, modern devices, the League enables the Day Surgery to serve the local community with a wide range of different surgeries. Being able to provide these services in Newbury is important as travelling to other hospitals takes a lot of time and can be very stressful, particularly for elderly patients. For patients who are regulars at the day surgery, being cared for by Dot and her team, who know them and their history, makes a big difference.

Dot is very grateful to the League and to the people of Newbury who donate to the charity for their generosity as it has truly made a significant difference to her unit and what they can do for patients. She herself contributes by helping to run the quiz night, one of several events the League use to raise funds.