The Day Therapy Unit at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has welcomed the arrival of nine brand new treatment chairs for patients receiving intravenous infusions such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy as part of their cancer treatment.
The reclining chairs, specifically designed for infusion therapy, will upgrade the chairs that have been in the unit since the hospital opened in 2013. Since that time, thousands of patients have been treated in Day Therapy and our 36 treatment chairs are now reaching retirement.
Day Therapy Nurse Unit Managers, Leanne Enright and Kate Bilton, are excited to unveil the new treatment chairs that will provide even greater comfort to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse patients.
The reclining chairs, specifically designed for infusion therapy, will upgrade the chairs that have been in the unit since the hospital opened in 2013. Since that time, thousands of patients have been treated in Day Therapy and our 36 treatment chairs are now reaching retirement.
Day Therapy Nurse Unit Managers, Leanne Enright and Kate Bilton, are excited to unveil the new treatment chairs that will provide even greater comfort to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse patients.
“We are committed to providing patients with the very best in cancer care and that includes supporting their comfort during long treatment sessions. For most patients in Day Therapy, they need to stay in the treatment chairs for hours at a time.” - Leanne Enright
Patients with breast cancer or pancreatic cancer can spend 60 to 70 hours sitting in an infusion chair over the course of treatment.
Chemotherapy is usually delivered in cycles with periods of rest in between and can be given over a few days, weeks, or months, or even on a long-term basis. Immunotherapy is usually given in cycles of two to four weeks, and some patients can stay on immunotherapy for up to two years.
Kate says: “The new treatment chairs will help us deliver extra comfort while delivering life-changing care to our patients. They will also help staff deliver care safely and effectively with new features such as hands-free height adjustment which will allow us to adjust the chair while keeping our hands sterile.”
These nine chairs are a wonderful start, but there is still more to do. Stay tuned this Christmas to find out how you can help.
Chemotherapy is usually delivered in cycles with periods of rest in between and can be given over a few days, weeks, or months, or even on a long-term basis. Immunotherapy is usually given in cycles of two to four weeks, and some patients can stay on immunotherapy for up to two years.
