CUH is particularly keen for the return of around 14 T34 syringe pumps, which are used in the community to administer drugs to patients continuously as part of their palliative care treatment.
The pumps, which cost about £1000 each but have no street value, are supposed to be returned when no longer needed, but can easily get tucked away in drawers and cupboards and then forgotten about.
Made of grey plastic, the pumps are branded McKinlay and are a bit smaller than a house brick, with a digital display and printed instructions on the front. They will normally be found with a large syringe on the top, which connects to a plastic pipe.
CUH is appealing to care home staff, GP surgeries and district nurses across Cambs, Herts, Beds, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk to help by spreading news of the appeal and keeping an eye out for equipment as they go about their normal duties. Or, if a family still has one in their home that has been forgotten about please get in touch
Deputy chief nurse, Giles Thorpe (pictured), said: “We deploy a large number of these pumps every year and most are returned without an issue. However, despite trying to trace them by our normal means, 14 are still outstanding.”
“They are not cheap items and we would urge anyone, or any organisation, with knowledge of any of these pumps to give as a call and we will arrange free collection as soon as we are able.”
The Trust equipment library can be contacted on 01223 348287 or 01223 256187
.