The parents of a former Royal Free liver patient have donated a state-of-the-art, instant ice machine to refresh patients in the hospital’s liver department, in memory of their daughter.
Ralph and Jen Burton, from Gloucestershire, visited the department this month to try out the new machine with David Patch, consultant physician and hepatologist, and complementary therapist Keith Hunt, who both treated their daughter Lynne.

The ice-maker will ensure that liver patients can enjoy an ice-cold drink whenever they want one, especially as thirst can be a symptom of liver disease.

"We are very grateful for this kind donation, this will make a huge difference to patients’ lives on the ward,” said Dr Patch.

Lynne was only in her 20s when she started suffering from a mysterious pain in her abdomen. On September 1999 she collapsed with major internal bleeding from the gut and was taken to King George hospital in Essex.
Luckily a specialist registrar from the Royal Free’s Hassell ward was there at the time and saw from her notes that in 1996 she had been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) - which is a chronic liver disease. He knew there was a connection so recommended that she be transferred straight away to the Royal Free hospital.
When Lynne came to the Royal Free, she was instantly referred to the liver diseases unit and cared for under the watchful eye of Dr Patch. Within ten days Lynne underwent two liver transplants. When the first transplant failed, she was in a lot of pain so therapist Keith Hunt gave her a massage, which helped her through the second operation. Keith helped Lynne a great deal over the many years she was in the Royal Free.
Jen said: “Keith also helped to keep her alive. He came in to give Lynne a massage at 5.45am, just before her major operation.”
Lynne spent 18 months over a nine-year period being treated at the Royal Free. Sadly, she died shortly after her 34th birthday, awaiting her third transplant.
In Lynne’s final stay at the hospital, she was very ill and requested that she end her life in the then Hassell ward.
Jen said: “The treatment Lynne had at the Royal Free couldn’t have been better. She wanted to come here because she said she felt safe. The staff on the ward were all wonderful, they’re all specialist staff and super.”
From visiting Lynne on the liver ward, Jen and Ralph recalled that the patients always enjoyed sucking on ice cubes as they would often be quite thirsty and there was never enough ice to satisfy their thirst. Lynne often said it was the only thing worth having sometimes so after Lynne’s death her parents raised the money to buy the state-of-the-art, instant ice-maker so that future patients could enjoy an ice-cold drink whenever they wanted.
“Everyone here is a medical miracle and we are now keen to raise awareness for the need for more organs. Since Lynne’s death we’ve got more than 40 people to sign the organ donor register,” said Jen.
Lynne’s father, Ralph, added: “Thanks to the Royal Free for everything, from the porters to the consultants. The Royal Free gave our daughter nine years of her relatively healthy life and for that we are very thankful.”