Charities unite to bring cutting-edge machine to hospital
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity has joined forces with head and neck charity Get A-Head, to bring a new 3D printer to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
The cutting-edge machine will be used in the Maxillofacial department of the hospital, to treat patients undergoing re-constructive surgery.
The majority of the work carried out within the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Department is facial prosthetics, although it also covers a wide variety of disciplines, including neurosurgical, paediatrics, burns and plastics and cancer patients.
The 3D printer will greatly improve the hospital experience for patients, by creating a faster turnaround, and reducing theatre times and waiting times. A 3D printed model also allows the department to manufacture various custom made reconstructive devices for individual patients, giving them a better quality of life after undergoing surgery.
Louise John-Newton, Charity Manager at Get A-Head, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with QEHB Charity to bring this much needed machine to the hospital.
“I’d like to thank everyone who donated to QEHB Charity and Get-A-Head, with special thanks to patient Peter McNeil, who donated £45,000 to the Get A-Head charity as a thank you to prosthetists for successfully fitting a prosthetic nose, after the removal of a large tumour.”
Peter said: “I thought I’d never be normal again… I couldn’t imagine living without my nose.
“The surgeons and prosthetists are miracle workers and I knew straight away that I wanted to do something to help.
“I’m delighted my donation means that more people will be able to benefit from reconstructive surgery.
“Losing a nose, eye or any body part doesn’t have to mean it’s the end of anything.”
Mike Hammond, Chief Executive of QEHB Charity, said: “We’re delighted and humbled by Peter’s generous donation, and would like to thank Get-A-Head for their support in bringing this cutting-edge machine to the hospital.”
To find out more or to make a donation, please visit www.qehb.org or call 0121 371 4852.
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