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United Lincolnshire Hospitals helps restore sight in Pakistan and Uganda Two machines used in cataract surgery have made the journey from Grantham and District Hospital to Pakistan, and from Lincoln County Hospital to Uganda to help provide free quality eye surgery to people in some of the poorest areas of the world.
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treatments. This new machine will improve the quality and quantity of operations to people with a big need for healthcare.
The machine will do around 600 cataracts in a year whilst also conducting other eye operations and
Consultant in ophthalmology, Mr Sohail Ahmed said, This new machine “It was my mother’s desire will improve that I establish the quality something and quantity permanent for people over of operations there after I to people with decided to stay in the UK. The a big need for hospital was healthcare. established
he machines had recently been replaced by newer models and would normally have been returned to the manufacturer Bausch and Lomb for destruction. The Trust gained permission from Bausch and Lomb to send the machines overseas to help provide free quality eye surgery to people in some of the poorest areas of the world.
Operating Department Practioner Jenny Milner handing over a ‘phaco’ machine to Hilditch logistics driver
with my own money about 18 years ago but I was helped with some of the equipment by my colleagues and a grateful patient. It was my mother’s idea and desire so I named it after her.”
“Me and my other colleagues from the UK can’t go over there because of the security situation at present. I hope once the situation improves then we will go across again,” said Mr Ahmed. Mr Ahmed uses his own money to help those patients in need. Two local doctors have now been trained on the machines and they go to the hospital every weekend to operate and provide consultation for patients at a minimal cost to them. For those patients who may not be able to afford the consultation, there is a waiting list for the free eye camp which happens twice every year. This wouldn’t be possible without the donation of the machines.
What’s on in Lincolnshire 16 November – Big Craft Event at Lincoln Showground www.bigcraftevent.com 29 – 30 November – Food and Gift Fair – Lincoln Showground www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/ whats-on/lincolnshire-food-and-gift-fair/ 4 – 7 December – Lincoln Christmas Market lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk/ 6 December onwards – Santa Special Railway from Cleethorpes Kingsway www.cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk/ 18 December - Healthcare carol concert at Lincoln Cathedral, 7.30pm
Farmers’ markets Lincoln - third Saturday of the month at Castle Square Boston – third Wednesday of the month at Wide Bargate, Boston Grantham - every 2nd Saturday on Welby Street Louth – 4th Wednesday of the month, Cornmarket. www.visitlincoln.com/markets
Trust Board: Tuesday 2 December 2014 in the Boardroom, Robey House, Lincoln.
Health Awareness campaigns There are various health awareness events every week and month. Why don’t you help promote among teams, patients and friends and family. Here’s what’s coming up: November Lung Cancer Awareness month Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Mouth Cancer Action Month Movember 14 November – World Diabetes Day December 1 December – Worlds AIDS Day January Love your liver autumn 2014
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