Strategic Crown Fund 2025-2026

This upgrade will transform care for patients who have experienced significant, life-changing traumatic injuries on the Katherine Monk trauma ward. Many of these patients currently cannot use, or be safely hoisted into, the existing shower facilities.

The improved wet room will provide a space designed around their complex physical and psychological needs - restoring comfort, dignity, and a sense of normality at a crucial stage in their recovery.

Another project supported through the fund was the purchase of a Pressure–Volume (PV) Loop machine to strengthen the work of the Structural Cardiology team at King’s College Hospital - one of the UK’s leading centres for complex cardiac care.

The PV Loop machine provides highly accurate, real-time measurements of heart performance, offering insights that traditional scans cannot. By giving clinicians a clearer understanding of how the heart is functioning moment to moment, the technology directly supports more informed decisions and safer, more effective treatment for some of the most vulnerable cardiac patients.

The fund supported the creation of a specialist video for patients with learning disabilities attending dental services. Many patients experience anxiety when facing unfamiliar clinical environments or procedures, and this can be especially challenging for people with learning disabilities.

The new video uses clear, accessible communication to explain what patients can expect during their appointment, helping to build confidence and reduce fear. By improving understanding and easing anxiety, the resource enables a calmer, more positive experience for patients and supports dental teams in delivering personalised, compassionate care.

Another funded project is the introduction of point-of-care anticoagulation testing for frail and elderly patients, many of whom are housebound. Anticoagulation medication is considered high-risk because of the potential for bleeding, and regular monitoring is essential. However, these patients often have poor venous access or struggle to tolerate repeated, painful blood tests, making traditional hospital-based testing difficult and distressing - particularly for those living with dementia.

Funding for portable testing equipment means that blood tests can now be carried out safely in patients’ homes. This approach reduces discomfort, minimises the need for multiple attempts to obtain a sample, and provides a more compassionate and accessible experience for some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.

The fund supported a project at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) to enhance care for patients nearing the end of life and to better support their families. The programme provides comforting and engaging items to help create a more soothing environment during an incredibly difficult time.

In addition, the project includes the purchase of iPads to improve communication between patients, families and staff- ensuring that important conversations can happen more easily and that patients feel more connected and supported. Together, these resources help deliver more compassionate, dignified end-of-life care.

This project focuses on enhancing physiotherapy equipment for patients with spinal cord injuries at Orpington Hospital’s neuro-rehabilitation unit. A spinal cord injury can be life-changing, affecting both young patients awaiting specialist rehabilitation and older patients, all of whom need to recover and improve their movement.

The upgraded equipment will complement existing therapy sessions and help improve functional outcomes. 

By making rehabilitation more targeted and meaningful, the equipment has the potential to ease frustration, improve mood, and support patients on their journey towards greater independence.

The OMI Budii Flip System is being introduced to support patients with learning disabilities, neurodivergent conditions and dementia while they are in the Day Surgery Unit. 

This interactive technology provides calming visual activities and engaging games that help reduce anxiety and create a more relaxed environment during what can be a stressful experience.

Patients and families can also upload their own images and activities, allowing them to interact with familiar content in both waiting areas and wards. By making the surroundings more personalised and comforting, the system helps improve the overall patient experience and supports a smoother, less distressing visit.

This project provides a portable ultrasound machine for use by the Pain and Anaesthetics teams to help reduce waiting times in the Day Surgery Unit.

Having access to portable imaging will ease reliance on the X-ray service, helping to reduce bottlenecks and support a smoother, more efficient patient pathway.

This funded project provides specialist equipment to accurately record patients’ weight in the Intensive Care Unit at Denmark Hill. Critically unwell patients in ICU are often sedated or unconscious, making it difficult to obtain reliable measurements using standard methods.

Accurate weight information is vital for planning safe and effective treatment. With this equipment now in place, staff can confirm each patient’s true weight and adjust therapies and interventions accordingly, helping ensure the best possible care for patients at their most vulnerable.