The Epsom Medical Equipment Fund has been helping Epsom General Hospital buy medical equipment for 45 years has now handed over a much needed and rather special treadmill.
The community neuro physiotherapy team serves people with all neurological conditions and the treadmill will help both inpatients and outpatients. “For those who have suffered a stroke or spinal injuries it will be a key rehabilitation component to enable them to return to walking” says, Physio, Stephanie Pearce. “It will also help people who have long term conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, to increase and improve walking. “The treadmill has built-in gait analysis software, so we can assess and treat patients to the highest of standards in line with clinical evidence and get the best rehabilitation outcomes for them”.
The family of Derek Harland set up a special “much loved” fund in his memory. This raised a substantial amount of money towards the cost of the treadmill choosing EMEF due to the outstanding care and dignity that was given to him in his final weeks at Epsom General Hospital. The Harland family were invited along to see what their donation had helped buy. Daughter, Nicola Dowell said, “ Derek was a paramedic for 25 years and then retrained as a podiatrist; Derek gave his working life to the caring of others, and this was definitely repaid to him during his final weeks., Nicola Dowell said on behalf of her, Mum, Anne Harland and brother Simon “that the money raised had gone to a good cause and very fitting tribute to his profession.”
Bess Harding EMEF organiser adds, “the treadmill which cost £9,750.00 is a vital piece of equipment for Epsom’s Neuro Rehabilitation gym. Many people will benefit.” Bess Harding thanked the Harland Family for thinking of EMEF when making this generous donation. You can find out more about this registered charity’s work at https://www.emef.org.uk/
