Thanks to generous funding from our League of Friends Charity, The QEH will soon be getting two new fully enclosed buggies worth £15,000 a piece that will provide greater comfort and convenience for patients and visitors travelling around our site.
Now we need your help to give them a name.
Horace the Hospital Hopper, Sid the Shuttle, Wendy the Wayfinding Wagon, or Bertie the Buggy; we’re looking for your suggestions on what to name them.
These upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to providing top-quality care and service to all who visit our hospital.
Paul Brooks, Director of Estates and Facilities at The QEH, said: “We’re so grateful to our League of Friends for funding these wonderful new buggies and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued support of the hospital and our patients.
“We are thrilled to invite the community to join us in naming these new buggies and contributing to the ongoing success of our hospital’s patient services.”
Penny Hipkin, Chair of the League of Friends Charity, shared her excitement: “We’re delighted to be able to support the hospital and its patients in such a meaningful way. The patient buggy service is an exceptional service that truly makes a difference, and patients hold it in the highest regard.”
How can you get involved?
We’re inviting local residents, patients, and their families to help us name one of our new buggies, while staff will have the chance to suggest a name for the second!
A panel of judges, including representatives from the League of Friends, Trust Governors, as well as patients and staff, are excited to hear your creative ideas. They’ll choose the top three names, which will then go to a public vote to crown the winner!
You can submit your name suggestions easily by clicking here. Voting will close at midnight on Wednesday 11 December.
A new level of comfort for patients
Since the service was introduced in September 2023, patients have had nothing but high praise for fantastic team of volunteer drivers, with some calling it our ‘best ever idea’ for patient experience and a service that ‘takes the dread out of the hill’.
These new buggies are designed with the utmost care to ensure patients enjoy a comfortable, safe, and efficient ride around the hospital site. Key features include:
- Fully enclosed with doors for added safety and comfort
- Pull-out step for easy access
- In-cab heater for warmth during colder months
- Air conditioning to keep passengers cool and comfortable
- Stereo system for a more pleasant and relaxing ride
- Bike-rack style attachment to the back to secure wheelchairs, walking frames, and other mobility aids, maximising space inside the buggy for passengers
New extended route for greater convenience
The two new buggies will be operating on an extended route around the hospital site between 9am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday and will improve accessibility for both patients and visitors. The route will begin in the main car park and travel to key areas across the site, including:
- The new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC)
- The Emerson Unit
- The Day Surgery Unit and Endoscopy Unit
- The Main Entrance
- The Sandringham Unit
- The Breast Unit and Macmillan Unit
- The new Discharge Lounge
- The West Wing
Not only that but the League of Friends Charity have also funded the construction of a brand-new shelter to house our two new buggies, complete with electric charging points.
Don’t miss out – submit your name suggestions today! Voting closes at midnight on Wednesday 11 December.
For more information, contact Jo Rowe, Voluntary Services Manager at joanne.rowe@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613205.
Ends.
Notes to editors;
If you would like to raise funds for good causes or help an appeal at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, please take a look at our website www.qehklcharity.co.uk. Alternatively, please email our Charity team at Charity@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613309.
For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
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