Bedford Hospitals Charity - Recent Appeals
Primrose car scheme
Since early 2006, patients going to Addenbrookes Hospital for radiotherapy treatment have been able to travel in comfort due to a pioneering car service set up by the Charity. Formerly the patients were dependent on patient transport vehicles which collected around the county before making their way to Cambridge and the whole trip could take many hours. Thanks to the new dedicated transport system, which is believed to be unique in the NHS, one patient (or at the most two) is conveyed by comfortable Vauxhall Zafira car from home to Addenbrookes and straight home as soon as the treatment (which may only take a few minutes) is completed. The four cars are driven by volunteers and the whole organisation is managed by the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust.
One of our volunteer Primrose drivers writes - "Jan 25th was the first day that I drove the Zafira to collect two people to take to radiotherapy at Addenbookes. It was a cold morning and ice had to be scraped off the windows and I had trouble releasing the handbrake, but after that everything went smoothly. The lady and gentleman were there on time for their appointments and as soon as they finished were brought home. This service had been set up to make it easier for people to get to treatment, which sometimes can be every day for seven weeks. Most days things go smoothly but there have been a few teething troubles because this is the first time a service like this has been used, so it has been a learning process for the ambulance service as well as the drivers. The journey usually takes about an hour (road works permitting) and I feel it is a privilege to be able to listen to the people and to hear their different stories. Also the other drivers are a friendly bunch and its good to have a chat while waiting. We try to minimise the waiting for the patients but one day after a long delay I thought I had lost a gentleman. Thankfully he was eventually found at the main reception. Overall I have enjoyed meeting lots of people and look forward to all the road works being completed so that we can make it an even speedier journey."
Cygnet Wing
In 1966 the new Maternity and Paediatric Unit, ‘The Cygnet Wing’, at Bedford Hospital was opened by Her Majesty the Queen. £8.6 million was provided by the Government and the Charity raised £120,000 to provide extra equipment and facilities for the project. The Cygnet Wing is one of the jewels in the Hospital’s crown, providing an exceptional level of care in a superb child friendly environment.
2005 and nine years on, there is a need to introduce some of the latest technological developments and to replace and upgrade some of the equipment. This will ensure that the Cygnet Wing continues to be able to provide the excellent service for which it is renowned. Bedford Hospitals Charity wants to help provide this equipment to ensure that the Cygnet Wing at Bedford Hospital remains one of the best Maternity and Paediatric Units in the United Kingdom
Care of the Elderly
With an ageing population, the need to provide additional support, comfort and an attractive environment for both patients and carers is becoming increasingly important. The care of elderly people is now a major part of Bedford Hospital’s responsibility.
The Bedford Hospitals Charity hopes to provide a range of medical and mobility equipment. This ranges from cardiac monitors to reclining chairs, bed and bathroom hoists and defibrillators.
With your generosity, our aim is to help Bedford hospital make life for the elderly patients as safe and comfortable as possible.