A leading animal referral hospital in the West Midlands has donated lifesaving medical equipment to a hospital trust to help them fight COVID-19.
Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, in Solihull, has given adult and paediatric breathing systems and filters to South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT), as well as loaning them syringe drivers to help administer drugs.
The Trust serves hospitals in Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon and Shipston-on-Stour, which are leading the region’s fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Alessandra Mathis, Willows’ Head of Anaesthesia, explained: “The whole idea came about after a conversation between one of internal medicine specialists Andrew Kent and his neighbour Ben Attwood, who is an anaesthetist at Warwick Hospital.
“Together we discussed if there was any way Willows could help with equipment and, a few days later, we were able to gift breathing systems and filters to SWFT to support in the fight against COVID-19.
“Ben even came to collect them himself and, while he was here, I asked him if there was anything else we could help them with and he mentioned syringe drivers. These are used to administer a very specific dose of medication to sick patients.
“At Willows, we have different types of syringe drivers and so after a conversation with the medical engineering manager at Warwick Hospital we quickly identified which ones we could provide.
“We’re delighted to have been able to help with this and wish South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust the very best in tackling this unprecedented Covid-19 outbreak.”
Glen Burley, Chief Executive at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to Willows Veterinary Centre for providing us with additional equipment that will help our medical teams provide care to patients during this Coronavirus pandemic.
“It is very humbling to see how local businesses are coming together to help the NHS at this difficult time and what a generous, caring community we have around us.”
Willows offers specialist services in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, clinical nutrition, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and spinal surgery.
To find out more about Willows and its wide range of specialist services, visit www.willows.uk.net or search for Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service on Facebook.
