The ECG, short for electrocardiogram, was a much needed, brand new piece of equipment for the Children’s Hub, as they previously didn’t have one at all.

Staff would have to try borrow an ECG from the Friarage’s Urgent Treatment Centre or Cardiology department, which would not always be possible, or practical to have staff moving around the hospital to locate it. Children in need of an ECG scan would most likely have to be referred to Cardiology. 

Now that the machine is readily available to use on the ward, an impromptu scan can be performed there and then with results the same day, therefore lessening an anxious wait for parents for results or having to return for another appointment. 

All staff in the Children’s Hub are trained in how to use the ECG, which has brought personal benefits to their skillset and means that there is never a shortage on the ward of someone to carry out a test.

Thanks to generous donations from the public, we were able to fund an ultrasound system worth approximately £25,000 which has enabled a new Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) treatment at the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service at the Friarage. The new ACUSON Juniper ultrasound scanner is a high-performance system that helps to provide a more seamless service for patients awaiting diagnosis on a range of MSK conditions.

The clinic, based within the Physiotherapy department at the hospital is headed by Mr Chris Dunne, Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist. Chris told us, "Our aim is that the system will reduce waiting times for procedures which would normally be referred to Radiology. This will provide a more seamless service and greater continuity of care. It is hoped to provide earlier diagnosis, prevent development of chronicity, reduced surgical complexity, and allow for more accurate prioritisation. We are incredibly grateful to Friends of the Friarage for their support to allow for the development of these services."

Thanks to a £400,000 donation from Friends of the Friarage, the new STRIVE Academic Centre opened its doors at the Friarage Hospital. The centre features an immersive simulation teaching space, a library, three teaching rooms, a computer room, common room, offices and a video wall, which will benefit medical students for generations to come.

Located above the Gara ward, the centre will put the Northallerton hospital at the forefront for providing cutting-edge training facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students as well as for staff.

It's not just state-of-the-art equipment that we help to fund, smaller items can be just as important too!

Every year we provide a Christmas present for patients who have to be in hospital over the festive season, and we also give out a gift to all wards and departments to say a big thank you to our valued Friarage staff.

TWO new state-of-the-art ultrasound scanners are set to reduce discomfort and speed up recovery for patients undergoing mastectomies and other surgical procedures at the Friarage.

The scanners, which significantly reduce discomfort through the more accurate use of an anaesthetic technique called nerve blocking, have been provided thanks to a £42,000 investment from the Friends of the Friarage.

Used with a local anaesthetic, or in combination with a general anaesthetic, nerve blocking allows a highly targeted approach to anesthetising the patient prior to surgery. This results in an improved patient experience, with quicker recovery rates and lower numbers of patients having to stay in hospital overnight.

Specialist diagnostic equipment (Heidelberg machine) costing £153,000 for the Friarage.