Surrey ballet school helps make hospital more comfortable for critically ill patients

State of the art bed donated to hospital charity

Tuesday 19 February 2019

A ballet school in Byfleet has helped make hospital more comfortable for critically ill patients being treated at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

The Susan Robinson School of Ballet recently presented the hospital with a state of the art bed for its intensive care unit (ICU), after raising an incredible £12,000 for the hospital’s official charity – Royal Surrey County Hospital Charity – at its gala last year.

Owner Susan Robinson Jones, who set the ballet school up 40 years ago, chose to support the charity after her husband, Cedric, was successfully treated for cancer of the oesophagus at the hospital in 2016.

It was while Cedric recovered in the hospital’s ICU that the couple realised the specialist beds that made him much more comfortable and helped aid his recovery were limited due to each bed costing £12,000.

With the support of her ballet school, Susan was determined to raise enough money to purchase a specialist bed for the hospital. More than 120 dancers aged 3 to18 performed five shows of its charity variety show, Reverence, to packed out audiences at The Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking last April. The money was raised through ticket sales, a raffle and cakes sales.

Susan said:

“When Cedric was diagnosed, it was an incredibly tough time for us; but everyone we met along the way – from the surgeons to the nutrition nurses – were so positive. They have given us our lives back and we are very grateful for that.”

She added: “We wanted to do something that would make a difference to people going through what Cedric went through. If we can make that whole experience a little more comfortable, it’s worth it. We are overwhelmed by the support we have received and want to thank everyone who came along to the gala and gave so generously.”

Sue Herson, Matron of Critical Care at the hospital, said: “The beds allow for patients to be in the correct position at the early stages of recovery, which reduces complications to patients when ventilated, as well as allowing a good up-right seated position for physiotherapy.

“The beds also allow patients to stand upright from the foot end of the bed allowing patients to stand and move at an earlier recovery stage. Being able to stand up from the bed, rather than rolling on their side to get out of bed, causes less stress, pain and discomfort.”

Royal Surrey County Hospital Charity funds projects that make the biggest impact on the 260,000 people the hospital treats each year. The charity provides life-saving equipment, redevelops wards, invests in staff development and funds innovative research.

Analiese Doctrove, Head of Fundraising at Royal Surrey County Hospital Charity, said:

“The bed, which has been named ‘Ced’s bed’, will make such a huge difference to patients being treated in our ICU. We are extremely thankful to Susan, Cedric, students at the ballet school and everyone who supported.”

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