A defibrillator has been purchased for Littleport Village. It is attached to the wall of the Village Hall on Victoria Street. The defibrillator was formally unveiled at 11am on Saturday 11th March 2017, in the Village Hall.
The defibrillator and cabinet is the first of three being purchased for the village. It has been funded by: Littleport Parish Council, Townlands Charity, Wood Fen Lodge, 363 Motor Cycle Club, Littleport Riots 200 committee, and the customers of One Stop on Wisbech Road.
PULSE is a Registered Charity 1098510 (2003). The charity aims to purchase medical equipment (non-NHS funded) for St George’s Medical Centre, which serves Littleport and the surrounding villages. We also help the community with medical needs, and the purchase of these defibrillators is an example of that. The charity’s trustees are: Geoff Norman (Chair), Siobhán Carew (Sec.), Theresa Cowlan (Treas.), Judith Legge, Val Padgett, David Porter, David Watson.
Since its inception, PULSE has provided a range of equipment to St George’s Medical Centre, Littleport. (St George’s Medical Centre serves the villages of Littleport, Southery, Shippea Hill, Little Downham and local hamlets in Cambridgeshire North and Norfolk West.) The list includes defibrillators, a neothesiometer (for the early detection of diabetes), otoscopes for the practice nurses, blood pressure monitors, hydraulic couches for the consulting rooms, a Dopplex machine (which gives a speedy indication of vascular disease), Cardioscan and software, which means tests can be carried out locally, avoiding long waits and trips to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, We have recently raised funds to buy an expensive portable bladder scanner, which helps diagnose conditions that are difficult to pick up, helping patients get to hospital much sooner for specialist care.
Our most expensive project, which is ongoing, was to fund the setting up an Oncology Suite in St George’s Medical Centre. Cheffins donated funds to cover set-up costs; running expenses are funded with help from two private benefactors. We need to raise additional funds, not only to provide ongoing support, but also to help fund the setting up of a second room in the suite. Patient numbers have grown steadily since this Addenbrooke’s outreach unit began giving treatments. It has spared patients, from as far away as Doddington, the tedious journey into Cambridge at a time when they are feeling ill from the effects of chemotherapy.
We recently acted as a facilitator for Southery Village, who raised funds to buy a defibrillator. The unit is attached to a rear wall of The Old White Bell on Upgate Street, and is there for the benefit of villagers and the broader community around the village.
The charity has also provided equipment to enable local hospitals to do outreach/minor ops in the local area. There is great deal more to do, and we continue to work on raising funds to make life a little better for people who are unwell. We rely on donations, small and large, to help us achieve the best support for Littleport and the surrounding villages.
Contact us to donate to our work, or to request help with medical equipment.
www.pulsemedicalcharity.com | email: info@pulsemedicalcharity.com
People in featured image:
Front row L to R: Mark Robinson, President of 363 MCC, who cut the ribbon, Samantha Davis (363 MCC), Susan Porter, Jadon Coppen, Madison Coppen, Siobhán Carew (Secretary of PULSE), Bradley Tucker, Robert Reynolds (363 MCC)
Back row L to R: Richard Grosvenor, Community 1st Responder, Colin Coppen (363 MCC), Philip Robinson, Village Hall Committee, Geoff Norman (Chairman of PULSE), Mick Collins (363 MCC), Pat Ollive, Village Hall Committee & WI