Sheffield Hospital Fundraising To Buy Bionic Suit
Doctors in South Yorkshire have launched an appeal to buy a “bionic” suit to help paralysed patients walk.
The Ekso skeleton suit will cost Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital spinal injuries unit £100,000.
It would potentially be used by hundreds of patients at the hospital to assist their recovery.
Paralympic gold medallist Matthew Skelhorn walked for the first time in eight years using the suit at a fundraising event.
The Ekso device was originally conceived for the American military to give soldiers superhuman strength.
‘Easier than wheelchair’
Nathan Timmis, who works in the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit at the Northern General, said he wanted to raise £2,000 on a 100-mile bike ride.
“The Ekso suits are only recently available in Europe and we want to be the first centre in the country to get one,” said Mr Timmis.
“Ideally we would get one in the next six to 12 months but we really don’t know – it’s the first time we’ve tried to raise this amount of money.”
Richard Nuttman, 35, from Sheffield, lost the use of his legs after a road traffic accident in 2006.
He works at the spinal injuries unit and was one of the first people in Sheffield to try out the suit.
“I am always sceptical before trying anything like this but I was amazed at how easy myself and others got up and started walking. It was easier than using a wheelchair,” Mr Nuttman said.
“Both the health and psychological benefits are massive. It will encourage people to do more rehab and exercise.”
Same Difference 
While it is truly laudable what this person is doing and I am sure a select few of the patients will benefit from this piece of equipment. I am deeply worried by the priorities this hospital is setting. Having spent 4 of the most miserable months of my life with my husband in this unit, back in 2007, there are other things this unit should be putting right that will benefit the majority of patients rather than a select few as will be the case with this piece of kit.
ie – staggering the rehabs staff hours of work to maximise gym time available to patients.
Finding a way to maximise the use of existing facilities such as the games room etc. Sorting out the food. Sorting out the team work between the rehab staff and nursing staff. Maximising the use of hydrotherapy. Sorting out the relationship between the family carers and staff, finding a way to include them more with care.
The last thing this unit needs is a new piece of kit that is going to make some of the older, and more severely injured patients believe that they don’t matter, even more than they already do.The only people that are going to get to use this piece of kit are the young, potential paralympian types.
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