Members of both the Rotary Club of Barnstaple Link and the Rotary Club of Barnstaple have finally been able to see a piece of equipment they bought for the Emergency Department at North Devon District Hospital – two years after they originally donated it.

COVID-19 restrictions during 2020 meant that the Rotarians were unable to see first-hand the LUCAS C.P.R. Device they had significantly helped fund with a £7,000 donation early on in the pandemic. The piece of equipment was identified during the pandemic so staff could carry out CPR whilst still in full PPE and reducing risk to themselves. The device will help change the outcome of cardiac arrest especially when prolonged resuscitation is needed. During COVID-19 this was vital in maintaining the safety of clinical staff and preventing the spread of the virus.

Earlier this month, Dr Oliver Dodd, who was the Trust Lead for Major Trauma at the time of purchase, was able to join representatives of the Trust charity Over and Above to welcome the Rotarians to the hospital for a demonstration of the device.

The two Rotary clubs significantly helped fund  the purchase of the device from money raised through the running of their charity shop back in 2020.

Dr Dodd explained how valuable the equipment has become over the past couple of years and expressed his gratitude to Rotary and “Over and Above for facilitating this major purchase for the department.

Dr Dodd said: “We were delighted to be able to welcome the Rotary Club members to finally see the equipment they played such an important part in providing for us. This device was vital in saving lives during the pandemic, and we are extremely grateful for this donation.”

Ralph Gordon MBE, representing the Barnstaple Rotary Shop, said “We had been looking for a way to say thank you to the North Devon District Hospital for the dedication and hard work they have been doing to keep us all safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. When contact was made with Dr Oliver Dodd we felt that this piece of equipment will not only ease the tremendous pressure the A&E Department are under at the moment but could help save lives within the community of North Devon for years to come.”

Julie Whitton, Senior Charity Officer at Over and Above, added: “Huge thanks to the two Rotary Clubs for this wonderful donation. We really do appreciate their support.”