The Randal Foundation are proud to support Airedale Hospital & Community Charity who are the dedicated charity of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (ANHSFT). They support the staff, patients and communities of Airedale across 700 square miles of West and North Yorkshire and East Lancashire.
The funding received from the Randal Charitable Foundation enabled them to purchase a Quick Lung Simulator. This innovative equipment helps their colleagues to be trail blazers in improving care for the most vulnerable patients in their hospital, those in their Intensive Care Unit.
The Quick Lung Simulator uses Artificial Intelligence to demonstrate rapid changes in lung dynamics. Their Intensive Care Unit is the first in the country to use Hamilton C6 ventilators as one device for all respiratory therapy and they are now the first Intensive Care Unit to use the AI element.
This simulator helps train their staff to better understand the physiological changes that occur to patients that are mechanically ventilated during respiratory illness, how to manage those changes efficiently and effectively, and treat accordingly to prevent deterioration and promote recovery. It reacts in real time to the changes and decisions made by the learner meaning no two training sessions are the same and every eventuality can be learned from.
Each year there are over 500 patients that are mechanically ventilated on their Intensive Care Unit. Providing the best possible training for their staff means that the care and clinical outcomes for these patients, and their families, will improve.
Their ICU colleagues regularly share their expertise, experience and knowledge with other organisations across the country attached to the Critical Care Network meaning the Quick Lung Simulator will start to have benefits and impact across the country through knowledge sharing and examples of best practice.
Ultimately, providing the best possible equipment and training for their staff means that the number of ventilation days for their patients will decrease and the risk of lasting effects on their mind and body, such as PTSD, anxiety, memory loss and depression, will reduce.
