BOURNEMOUTH Hospital Charity is £55,000 away from purchasing revolutionary robotics to help people living with stroke relearn to walk.

Over 720 people are admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital each year with stroke, and 75 per cent of these have lower limb weakness.

The charity started fundraising in 2020 for the Walkerbot, a piece of robotics equipment which uses a harness suspended above a treadmill and robotic limbs to move the patient’s legs in a consistent pattern.

A computer controls the pace of walking and measures and adapts to the body’s response to movement.

Thanks to donations from community organisations, local businesses and individuals, just £55,000 remains of the £365,000 fundraising target for the piece of robotics.

Consultant Therapist in Stroke and NIHR Clinical Lecturer, Louise Johnson said: "We have been blown away by the support the Walkerbot appeal has received, and are so grateful for every donation.

"This amazing piece of robotics will revolutionise our rehabilitation process for both patients and staff. Patients will take more steps per session and staff will be able to run the sessions without spending long periods of time crouching on the floor.

"We are so excited to be nearly at our target and cannot wait to be able to bring the Walkerbot to our hospital."

With the Walkerbot, patients will take thousands of consistent steps per session, compared to the dozens they might otherwise take using traditional over-ground rehabilitation.

The Walkerbot also works with patients that have no activity in their lower limbs.

Fundraising Manager at Bournemouth Hospital Charity, Karen Smith said: "Every donation from our generous community takes us another step closer to our target, and another step closer to being able to offer this amazing technology to people who are relearning to walk after a stroke.

"Fundraising for this particular appeal has been a community effort – it is a huge boost for our teams – so a huge thank you to everyone that has donated."

If you would like to donate to the Walkerbot appeal and help Bournemouth Hospital Charity hit its target, visit BHCharity.org/walkerbot or call the Charity Office on 0300 019 4060.