Children in Chester no longer need to travel for life-saving breathing support

The memory of 21-month-old Emily Sowden, who sadly died from acute viral bronchiolitis in 2013, continues to help children at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Her family’s charity, the Emily Ffion Trust, has recently donated near £17,000 to fund vital breathing equipment – bringing their total support of the hospital to over £65,000.

Thanks to this latest donation, the hospital now has a full set of respiratory equipment. This includes ventilators, saturation monitors and nebulisers, ready to support children both in the community as patients treated by the Children’s Care Package team, and those on the children’s ward or needing regular hospital visits as part of their everyday care. It means all local children with breathing conditions who need equipment to help them can now get the support they need quickly and close to home.

Before now, many families had to travel to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to access specialist equipment, a 44-mile round trip. That often-meant families missing school or work and added stress during an already worrying time. Now, families can simply visit their local hospital for the support they need.

Jane Molyneux, Team Leader for the Children’s Community Care team, at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: 

"When a child struggles to breathe, it affects everything – their sleep, their ability to play, to learn, and just to feel safe. I’ve seen families in real emotional distress when they learn they need to rush to Alder Hey for replacement equipment, worried about delays or unfamiliar machines. Thanks to the donated ventilators, we can now provide equipment for all the children in our care – whether they need a machine urgently, have forgotten theirs during a hospital admission, or simply need a backup at home. It’s not just about machines – it’s about giving children a better start in life and giving parents peace of mind."

Research shows that children with well-managed breathing conditions are more likely to attend school regularly and do better in class. Poor respiratory health is one of the top reasons children miss school in the UK. Having the right equipment also helps reduce emergency hospital visits, easing pressure on A&E and improving long-term health.

Angie Lopez, Head of Fundraising at The Countess Charity, added:

"The Emily Ffion Trust has been one of our most dedicated supporters. Over the past decade, they’ve helped fund oxygen machines, video laryngoscopes, saturation monitors and ventilators. These donations have made a real difference to children on our wards, in the community, Neonatal unit and in A&E. Their latest gift means we now have everything we need to care for every child who comes through our doors. It’s a powerful legacy for Emily, and a huge help to our patients and their families."

The new equipment will be available in the hospital’s Women and Children’s Building, which opened last month. This modern space offers brighter, more comfortable surroundings and purpose-built clinical areas. It’s designed to support quicker treatment, better communication between teams, and a more positive experience for children and their families.

Having this equipment on site also means staff can train more easily and more often. Previously, training had to be carefully scheduled and relied on borrowing a child’s spare ventilator from home. Now, with additional machines available, staff can drop-in for training whenever they need it –helping new starters and experienced team members to stay confident and ready to care for children who need breathing support.

John Sowden, Emily’s father, said: 

“Once again we are delighted to provide funding to the Countess of Chester Hospital for what are very much needed pieces of critical equipment to help unwell children in the region. 

“Since losing Emily very suddenly in November 2013, we as trustees have received so much support from family, friends and people we’ve never met before, all with the aim to improve others chances to recover and live more comfortably from respiratory conditions. 

“Although none of this kit would have helped with Emily’s particular condition, her name is attached to each piece of equipment, and we know that – even though she’s no longer with us – she will continue to have a huge impact on the wellbeing of others. 

“Thanks to Angie, Stuart Eccles and the wider team for their obvious appreciation of what we, as a trust, aim to provide. We take great comfort in the fact that should children at the hospital become unwell with any type of respiratory condition in the region then the amazing team in Chester are very well placed to help quickly and effectively to bring them back to full health.”

With around 1 million children in the UK receiving treatment for asthma, the Countess of Chester Hospital’s Paediatric Outpatients Department is now better equipped to support the growing number of local families affected by respiratory conditions, giving children a safer, faster start to recovery, right here in Chester.

Pictured - From Left to right:

Nicky Lightfoot- Acting Ward Manager Children’s Unit; Jane Molyneux - Care Package Team Leader; Lisa Saunders – Children’s Unit Nurse; John Sowden – Emily Ffion’s dad; Sarah Jackson- Care Package Team Manager; Dave Brammer Emily Ffion’s Uncle; Sara Sowden – Emily Ffion’s mum; Jodie Leigh Leveridge -  Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner; Angie Lopez – Head of Fundraising at The Countess Charity.