Stroud Hospitals League of Friends has been pleased to purchase some new equipment for the Community Dental Service at Redwood House, Beeches Green, Stroud.

An official presentation by Dr Tim Crouch, Executive Committee Member of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends to Diana Gould, Joint Clinical Director Dental Service, Gloucestershire Care Services Community Dental Service of a bariatric wheelchair for use in the surgery and also some fans for the waiting room and clinics was held on Wednesday 21 October.

The community dental service in Stroud offers NHS dental treatment for people of all ages with special needs because of a mental or physical condition, as well as domiciliary care for people who are unable to leave their homes.

Diana Gould said:  “On behalf of the Dental Team here at Stroud, Redwood House Dental Clinic, I would like to to say how grateful we are for the donation of funds for a bariatric wheelchair and 4 Dyson fans.

The wheelchair will be of great benefit for our patients who are less mobile and need extra assistance in walking. Some arrive by ambulance transport but still find it difficult to walk into the clinic and then down to the surgery. We can use the wheelchair to offer them help in managing this.

Our dental chairs also have an upper limit relating to the size of person that can be safely tipped into a suitable position for us to treat. However, by having a bariatric wheelchair anyone who cannot be safely moved could sit in the wheelchair, and the wheelchair tipper machine could be used to recline them into a better position to receive their care.”

We are very pleased with the new clinic here at Redwood House but we have found it difficult to control the temperature during the summer months.  The fans will certainly help to keep the waiting room and clinics cooler and more comfortable for the patients and the staff.

We really do value the support that the Stroud League of Friends is able to give us and wish to say, once again, thank you very much.”

Photo:  Dentist, Rachel Perry shows the bariatric wheelchair and wheelchair tipper machine in action, watched by (from left to right): Dr Tim Crouch, Diana Gould, Susan Strongitharm and Carole Parker – Stroud Hospitals League of Friends, Andrea Farthing – Senior Dental Nurse, Penny Pitt – Dental Therapist and Helen Heald – Dentist.