Bournemouth, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on November 26th, 2024 | return to news
Breath of fresh air for Royal Bournemouth Hospital patients
The Nippy Clearway 2 purchased by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity will help patients who struggle to clear secretions from their airways.
Help is on hand at Royal Bournemouth Hospital for people with coughing difficulties.
Patients are now receiving a breath of fresh air thanks to a new piece of equipment purchased by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity.
Because of a grant from the Bournemouth Chest Diseases Charitable Trust, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity bought a Nippy Clearway 2, a type of cough assist device, to help people who struggle to clear secretions from their airways. This includes people receiving treatment on the Stroke Unit, Critical Care, Older Persons Assessment Unit and more.
The body normally clears the airway by coughing, but this can be difficult for people living with neuromuscular disorders, spinal cord injuries or other conditions that impact breathing.
The Nippy Clearway 2 – which was purchased for £6,083 – uses a close-fitting facemask, mouthpiece or tracheostomy to gradually inflate the lungs with a positive airway pressure. Then, there is a rapid shift to negative pressure which produces a high expiratory flow, simulating a natural cough.
University Hospitals Dorset senior physiotherapist, Claire Creasey, said: “Critical illness can cause muscle weakness including the respiratory muscles. The diaphragm and chest muscles are needed to move air in and out of the lungs and to provide strength for a cough. For those who can’t cough effectively on their own, the Nippy Clearway 2 is a vital tool in preventing respiratory infection and keeping their airways clear.
“Using the cough assist device can help minimise the need for more invasive procedures such as reintubation. This reduction can decrease the risk of health complications and shorten their hospital stays.
“We’re so grateful to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity for purchasing the Nippy Clearway 2 and making it possible for us to help more people who need assistance coughing – it will make a world of difference.”
The cough assist device also allows treatment options supported by any University Hospitals Dorset physiotherapist. It’s also used in on-call situations, overnight or during the daytime, in the Emergency Department or Acute Medical Unit at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
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