Bid for Better | our projects Royal Surrey Charity is funding innovative projects at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust that have the potential to bring about enhanced care for our patients, via our Bid for Better initiative.Over the first three competitions (held in 2022, 2023 and 2025) over £574K has been provided in funding for 36 inspiring Bid for Better projects. Find out more about Bid for Better Bid for Better projects Dementia-friendly seating areas Supporting patients with dementia Patients really enjoy spending time in these bespoke dementia-friendly spaces that have been created at our community hospital. The space can be used for activities with their family and friends, which has had a positive impact on their wellbeing and rehabilitation. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £4,786University of Surrey funding: £5,000 Cancer Wellbeing Toolkit Supporting people with cancer, and staff This project brings together specialists at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Surrey. Development of a cancer wellbeing toolkit is underway, to help patients adapt to cancer treatment, as well as improve staff wellbeing and confidence in providing high-quality cancer care. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £22,030University of Surrey funding: £34,567 Read more Neonatal Community Outreach Project Premature babies and families Funding for a Neonatal Community Outreach Team, including a support worker and monitoring app, for preterm babies needing additional care at home. This initiative has had a significant impact with readmissions significantly reduced, improved parent knowledge and other hospitals’ interest in learning from this and creating similar services. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £29,861.60 Read more Cancer Nutrition Video Resources Supporting cancer patients A series of award-winning nutritional videos for people with cancer were created to enhance patient care and experience by answering common dietary questions raised during cancer treatments. The first of its kind, this project proved so successful that the videos are now available on many external websites, like Macmillan Cancer Care and Prostate Project. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £4,817 Read more Patient-Led Pain Management Technology Supporting patients requiring pain management This project funds the integration of Leva clinic’s online pain management services into Royal Surrey's existing Pain Management service. This has had a notable impact on providing flexible and accessible support for patients with chronic pain, as evidenced by patient feedback. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £5,000University of Surrey funding: £5,000 Pre-Operative Patient Education Videos Supporting patients undergoing pancreatico-duodenectomy and total pancreatectomy This project funds the production of videos expanding the information in patient information leaflets to reduce anxiety and improve understanding of surgical procedures. Patients have given very positive feedback about the videos. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £2,485 Read more Surgical Risk Factor Study Supporting patients with pancreatic cancer Funding was provided to conduct a study on nutritional status and surgical outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer, to improve survival rates through early identification of surgical risk factors. The research resulted in improved patient knowledge to manage their nutritional intake differently, and increase their muscle strength prior to surgery. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £13,188University of Surrey funding: £16,507 Read more Paediatric Perioperative Experience via Video Supporting children and young people undergoing surgery This project supports the use of video technology to prepare children for surgery, aiming to reduce anxiety and minimise cancellations. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £3,700 Enhancing Light Environment for Patient Recovery Supporting patients who have been in hospital for long periods of time Light boxes on wards have been funded to improve mood and mobility and reduce patient deconditioning during inpatient stays, where patients are less mobile due to long stays. The findings suggest that light boxes may have positive effects on alertness and cardio physiology. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £5,897.00University of Surrey funding: £29,811.00 Watch video about the project Visual Coaching Screens for Radiotherapy Supporting cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment This project supports the expansion of the successful pilot of wireless screens to support patients to hold their breath while having radiotherapy, which can help give a clearer image of the area that is being scanned. Coaching patients through this process helps reduce patient distress and treatment times. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £13,603 3D-Printed Bolus for Radiotherapy Supporting cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment A 3D printer and clinical software was funded to produce a perfectly sculptured ‘second skin’, known as bolus material, for patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck or anal cancers. The bolus is placed on the area of skin receiving radiation enabling better treatment of cancerous cells close to the skin’s surface. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £20,000 Read more Menopause Matters: Health Service for Women Supporting women experiencing menopause High-quality information resources were developed to support women during menopause, empowering them to make informed health decisions and enhance staff knowledge to improve patient care. University of Surrey funding: £4,985 Read more Empowering through Information Supporting maternal mental health patients and their families This project supports the creation of psychoeducational resources for patients and families accessing the new Maternal Mental Health Service in Surrey. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £4,464 Post-Operative Ice Lollies for Patient Comfort Supporting patients after surgery Ice-lollies have been funded for patients post-surgery to improve patient comfort and reduce symptoms related to anaesthesia, while supporting rehydration. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £3,000University of Surrey funding: £2,984.87 Technology-Driven Diabetes Management for Children Supporting children and young people with diabetes, and their families The project provides personalised diabetes management through technology, enhancing education and accessibility for young patients and their families. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £4,696 Discharge Toolkit for Frail Older Patients Supporting frail older patients A tailored discharge toolkit has been produced to support frail older patients transitioning across care services. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £17,056University of Surrey funding: £17,459 Dragonfly Care Boxes for End-of-Life Care Supporting dying patients and their families 'Dragonfly Care Boxes' have been funded on all adult wards and in our emergency department, to help create a calming environment for patients and their loved ones at the end of their life. The boxes contain essential items such as lip balm, no-rinse shampoo caps, toiletries, Bluetooth speakers and aromatherapy diffusers. Additional guest camp beds have also been funded, so that relatives and carers can stay overnight. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £11,385 Read more Home Phototherapy for Newborn Jaundice Supporting newborn babies with jaundice At-home phototherapy for newborns with jaundice has been funded. As a part of this initiative, a trained healthcare professional will visit homes equipped with portable phototherapy devices, allowing newborns to receive treatment while remaining in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £30,000 Read more TTNS for Overactive Bladder Supporting patients with an overactive bladder This project aims to establish a service that allows a less invasive treatment for overactive bladder, improving patient outcomes. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £8,123 Genome QA Software for Audit and Accreditation Supporting healthcare professionals and patients This project introduced an IT software app that serves as an audit and accreditation tool at our hospitals, enhancing patient safety and governance. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £14,400 Your Voice Matters: Feasibility Study in Head and Neck Cancer Care Supporting patients with head and neck cancer A feasibility study for an online platform to collect Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) for routine care, improving patient experience and clinical decision-making. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £24,952University of Surrey funding: £36,117.46 Get Up, Get Dressed: Clothing Initiative Supporting patients who are at risk of deconditioning Providing clothing to longer term and lonely patients, encouraging them to get dressed and help reduce the time spent in hospital gowns, promoting mobility and dignity. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £3,500 ImproveWell: Digital Staff Engagement in Radiotherapy Supporting patients undergoing radiotherapy and healthcare staff The trial of a digital platform to enhance staff engagement and collaboration in radiotherapy to process feedback, ultimately improving patient experience. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £7,200 Day-unit abdominal paracentesis service Supporting patients with advanced cancers This project funds a nurse-led service that helps drain excess fluid from the stomach area for patients with advanced cancer. This simple procedure can bring great relief, helping patients feel more comfortable and improving their quality of life. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £450 Aided cortical testing for hearing loss Supporting newborns with hearing impairment This project supports early cortical testing to diagnose hearing loss in babies. The aim is to fit hearing aids within four weeks of diagnosis, maximising speech and language development outcomes at a crucial time for newborns and their families. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £7,598 Immersive VR therapy Supporting cancer patients and paediatric care This project fund DR.VR™ kits offering meditative and nature-based virtual reality content to reduce anxiety, pain and enhance the hospital experience for adult and child patients. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £9,264University of Surrey funding: £12,510 Neonatal home antibiotics Supporting preterm infants at home This project is an extension for the previously charity funded Neonatal Outreach Service. Recent funding will provide a registered nurse joining the existing team to administer IV antibiotics and medications in patients’ homes, reducing GP visits and supporting 7-day phototherapy. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £29,905 Giving voice Supporting patients with speech and language difficulties This project funds new, upgraded devices, therapy-app subscriptions, voice-amplifier kits and licensing software to improve communication for stroke, Parkinson’s and MND patients. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £5,964 Picture in theatre Supporting minor-op patients This projects provided funding for the installation of ceiling or wall artwork in procedure rooms to soothe and distract patients, improving satisfaction and team morale. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £3,737 Wall decal for patient info Making patient information more accessible This project provides a clear, illustrated wall decal in the frailty unit to explain geriatric assessments in patient-friendly terms, enhancing understanding and reducing anxiety. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £3,957 Clinical psychology resource for teenagers Supporting teenagers with chronic gut conditions This project funds a free online clinical-psychology resource to deliver evidence-based support for teenagers with gastrointestinal disorders, filling a local service gap. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £4,568University of Surrey funding: £2,851 CITRuS2 Supporting cancer follow-up care This project ensures patients' voices are central to their care. CITRuS2 uses PROMS (Patient Reported Outcome Measures) with a traffic-light symptom system to ensure timely, targeted cancer-related care. Green symptoms are monitored, amber symptoms are addressed with appropriate interventions, and red symptoms trigger referrals for specialist care. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £18,770University of Surrey funding: £7,736 Pharmacist-led heart failure clinic Supporting discharged heart-failure patients This project funds a Pharmacist Heart Failure Clinic at Royal Surrey offering patients early post-discharge review, treatment optimisation and remote monitoring via Doccla devices. Ultimately preventing readmissions. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £26,956 Frailty mobility tracker Supporting older inpatients Funding provides wearable activity monitors to track daily movement, encourage early mobilisation and prevent deconditioning in frail patients. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £10,526University of Surrey funding: £14,028 Infrared vein finder technology Supporting venipuncture patients This project provides funding for two vein-finder devices and staff training. These devices utilise infrared technology to display a clear map of a patient's veins on the skin surface, enabling healthcare professionals to locate veins quickly and accurately. These devices will reduce discomfort for patients and enhance procedural efficiency on the Surgical Short Stay Unit. Royal Surrey Charity funding: £7,152 Inspired? If you work for Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, you can apply for funding for your innovative project. More about Bid for Better Manage Cookie Preferences