Posted on Wednesday 25th May 2011
Joint replacement patients are invited to take part in the walk
A walk to raise funds for orthopaedic research at West Cumberland Hospital is being planned for later this summer, following similar successful events in previous years.
Former patients who have undergone total joint replacement of the hip, knee, shoulder or elbow are being urged to sign up to take part in the ‘Cumbrian Joint Walk’ on Saturday, 3 September on the promenade at Whitehaven Harbour.
The event is being organised by West Cumberland Hospital Consultant Suresh Rao, who hopes to match the success of the last joint walk in 2004.
Around 100 former patients raised over £16,000 through personal and business sponsorship when they walked the short distance – less than a mile – along the harbour front, finishing at The Beacon centre.
Mr Rao explained how the money raised is being used to fund research projects in Orthopaedics at West Cumberland Hospital.
“One scheme pays for staff to be trained in using questionnaires and interview techniques so they can check if patients’ expectations are being met when they come into hospital to undergo major surgical procedures like joint replacements,” he said.
It is hoped many more joint replacement patients will take part this time as a lot of fun events are being planned in partnership with The Beacon and the organisers of Whitehaven Festival.
There will be fashion shows by local students, live music, stalls with games and a bouncy castle, reduced entry fees for the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs Exhibition and the return of the Continental Market.
There will also be a pictorial depiction of the history of medicine in West Cumbria with displays by the emergency services, live demonstrations of research devices for studying arthritis, artificial joint implants and 3D video clips of surgical procedures.
Former patients wishing to sign up to take part in the walk or wanting more information should contact Linda Rome, Orthopaedic Secretary at West Cumberland Hospital, on 01946 523192 or Helen McDowell, Private Patients Coordinator at The Cumbrian Clinic, on 01946 523382.