Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust.

DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?

We may have been quiet for a while but behind the scenes we’ve been busy!

Continuously fundraising and planning the best way forward with Southmead Hospital and their neurological team.

This work is groundbreaking and the largest programme in the UK in Billie’s name, all made possible by your amazing incredible donations!

Read the update from the Southmead Neurological Head Mario Teo below.

Following substantial support from the Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust (BEWT), the Bristol Neurovascular Research Network (Bristol-NRN) has been established at Southmead Hospital. The newly established team is focusing on developing and delivering research into Sub-Arachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH) and Vasospasm trends and management.

Since the appointment of a Research Facilitator and Research Nurse, the new team at Southmead has been key collaborators on a large-scale Observational Study taking place across the UK and Ireland. Southmead Hospital is contributing key data from Bristol to help understand the effectiveness of brain drain insertion and induced high Blood Pressure and therapy for the arteries when blood supply is reduced in the brain. By analysing this data it is hoped that this frequent complication of SAH can be reduced.

In addition, a Quality-of-Life Study has been started - the first step of a multi-stage research project to understand what happens to SAH patients after they have been discharged from hospital. By investigating the quality of life and unmet needs of these patients after leaving hospital, we can find ways to improve care for patients, relatives and carers impacted by SAH.

Finally, the team have been raising the profile of the Bristol-NRN with other clinical experts at a national level, and by engaging patients and members of the public. A dedicated Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) group for SAH has begun to be established. PPIE is essential when planning, designing and delivering research. It improves the chances of successful recruitment of patients to studies and clinical trials and ensures new care pathways and treatments are meaningful to the patients they will affect.

Over the next six to 12 months, BEWT’s investment in the Research Nursing post will be split across 5 Nurse Specialists within the cerebrovascular neurosurgery team at Southmead Hospital. This will allow the Network to expand, pool skills and experience, and provide a more flexible service for delivering Research in this important area. The nursing team will also drive the Quality-of-Life study forward. 

The team are part of a Genomics study – working with key collaborators to help determine whether a specific gene is associated with SAH and the outcome. This will provide insight into the pathophysiology of brain injury after SAH and potentially target the development of treatments to improve patient outcomes.

In addition to this, the team will be exploring the link between abnormal sodium levels and Vasospasm – they will investigate the evidence in the existing scientific literature to see what the impact of abnormal sodium levels in the blood and urine is on the development of vasospasm following SAH. There is preliminary data in the literature on the link between abnormal and uncorrected sodium levels leading to poorer outcomes after SAH. In our intensive care unit, the electronic digital records provide countless data points to allow complex analyses. We’re also working on collaboration with the engineering school at the University of Bristol to support this work.

FInd out about OUR

FUNDRAISING EFFORTs…

On Thursday 29th June, Sophie and Richard Wood, Billie’s parents were interviewed on BBC Points West and BBC Radio Bristol!

Along with their son Max and family friend Tim Poat, Sophie and Richard shared Billie’s story, the recent Thames Rowing challenge and the astounding money raised by the BEWT charity.

The remarkable fundraising completed to date will make a profound difference in preventing other families from enduring the loss that Billie's family has endured.

preventing the world losing another loved one

The charity, BEWT, was founded in loving memory of Billie Elizabeth Wood. Our fundraising success in the 3 years since Billie passed has led to recruitment of new subarachnoid haemorrhage research roles at Southmead Hospital!

Our charity will fund vital research in vasospasm and subarachnoid haemorrhages.

our girl, Billie

Billie was a down-to-earth, positive, caring person. A 25-year-old who loved life, she made sure everyone around her was enjoying the ride with her. Drawn in by her magnetic personality, she lit up any room she entered - her smile was contagious. A traveller, adventurer, best friend, daughter, sister, girlfriend and niece.