Getting blood taken can be an unpleasant but necessary part of a stay in hospital for many patients, and for Matthew from Fyvie it’s a very regular occurrence.
Matthew is a renal patient at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and he has blood taken regularly to monitor his kidney function. Like many renal patients, he has problems with his veins that make inserting needles for blood tests or cannulas very difficult.
Matthew recently had the chance to try out a vein finder and, after receiving really positive feedback on the experience from him and his family, we are over the moon to say that the charity has funded a dedicated machine for Ward 108.
This nifty piece of kit is handheld device which can be held above a person’s skin and uses near-infrared light to create a real-time image of their veins, making them visible on the skin’s surface. This quick, pain-free process makes it much easier for healthcare professionals to locate a vein suitable for inserting the needle.
Matthew says, “I am incredibly grateful to NHS Grampian Charity for purchasing the vein finder for Ward 108 where I am a long-term patient.
“Before the introduction of the vein finder, I faced multiple, painful and distressing attempts to have bloods taken and cannulas inserted. This causes me a great deal of anxiety.
“Now that doctors have use of the vein finder, having blood tests and cannulas inserted is much less traumatic and I no longer feel afraid or anxious because they usually manage first time.”
Senior charge nurse Catherine is delighted with to have the vein finder on the ward and says, “It’s a really big boost for patients because it makes the process so much simpler and less traumatic for them.”
Senior medical healthcare support worker Tina agrees, saying, “It’s a huge morale boost for patients who are in with long admissions and getting continuous bloods done. Lots of patients have needle phobias too, so the vein finder can make the process much quicker and easier for them too.
The renal department is an incredibly busy one, and around 250 patients are expected to benefit from the vein finder every year.
“Beyond the immediate benefits for Matthew, we know that this technology will help many other patients facing similar challenges,” says Matthew’s mum Susan. “Thank you once again for NHS Grampian Charity’s support and for making such a positive impact in Matthew’s hospital experience and for other patients.”
Thank you to everyone whose generous donations have helped fund this fantastic piece of equipment, and a huge thank you to Matthew and his family too for highlighting the fantastic benefits this will bring to patients.
NHS Grampian Charity uses the kind donations made by our supporters to improve the experience of patients in hospitals across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray through the provision of enhanced medical equipment, advanced staff training, and cutting-edge medical research. We do not replace core NHS responsibilities – we enhance them. You can donate here to support more fantastic initiatives like this one.