Friends of Horton support lymphoedema patients at Katharine House

The League of Friends at the Horton General Hospital, also known as Friends of the Horton, recently made a generous donation of £16,000 to lymphoedema care at Katharine House Hospice.

The donation has funded two pieces of specialist equipment for the hospice’s newly established lymphoedema clinic room, enhancing the quality of care for patients with complex needs, while helping staff to provide care more effectively and efficiently.

In partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), Katharine House Hospice provides high quality palliative and end of life care for the people of Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire.

Hannah Mozelewski, Clinical Manager and Lymphoedema Specialist Physiotherapist, at OUH said: “With the addition of a new Lymphoedema clinic room at Katharine House Hospice, we were in need of specialist equipment that would enable us to provide the best possible treatment for our patients.

“Many of our patients have mobility issues with heavy and painful legs. We’re really grateful to the Friends of the Horton who have funded the specialist couch and an additional scanner, which have already made a huge difference to our patients.”

The largest item purchased is a Plinth Medical Lymphoedema Bariatric Treatment Couch, worth £11,745. This fully electric, tilting patient chair is designed to improve comfort for patients, many of whom experience painful swelling and mobility issues, while also protecting staff from injury with its ergonomic features.

Also funded was a Haddenham LymphScanner, worth £4,250. This portable device measures water content in tissue, enabling clinicians to detect and monitor lymphoedema more effectively and reduce the risk of complications such as infections, sepsis, and hospital admissions.

Heather Clelford, League of Friends Manager at the Horton General Hospital, said: “We are absolutely delighted to support the lymphoedema service at Katharine House Hospice with this funding. This is the largest single donation we’ve made to date, and it reflects our deep commitment to enhancing patient care in our community. Knowing that this equipment is already improving comfort and treatment for patients is incredibly rewarding for all involved.”

Pictured: Val Law (Friends of the Horton Hospital), Hannah Mozelewski (Lymphoedema Clinical Manager), and Heather Clelford (Chair, Friends of the Horton Hospital).