The Bedford Hospitals Charity was founded in 1988 by a group of local people, initially to raise money to refurbish the dilapidated and antiquated Student Nurses Home at Bedford Hospital.  Since then it has raised over £5.5million for a number of projects.  The most significant was the Primrose Appeal to build an Oncology Unit which raised £2.35million.  Since then another £300,000 has been raised for the Chemo Preparation Appeal.
The key to the Charity’s success has been its ability to work closely with the local community.  Most of the money has been raised through the generosity of local people, either supporting events organised by the committee or organising events themselves. There have also been a few large individual donations.  Other charitable trusts, particularly local ones, have been very supportive.  Hard work and commitment have created success and thanks are due to a band of regular helpers, who give so much time to the Charity.

Current Appeals

Cancer Screening Appeal

The Charity is launching a new appeal for £400,000 towards purchasing equipment for the Endoscopy Unit at Bedford Hospital.
Endoscopy allows examination of the throat, lungs, stomach, bowel or bladder.  About 3% of the population will have an endoscopy this year and this will increase with the introduction of the NHS National Bowel Screening Programme.
 Bedford has put forward a bid to become a screening centre for Bowel Cancer in partnership with Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust.  Bowel Cancer Screening aims to detect disease before it gives rise to symptoms and when treatment is most likely to be effective.  Regular bowel screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16%.
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust hopes to upgrade all its existing endoscopy equipment to provide a first class service for the people of Bedford and surrounding areas.  The new equipment will ensure that people needing treatment locally will be treated in a state-of-the-art department.

Primrose Unit

Such is the public support for the Primrose Unit that the fund remains open even though the original Primrose Appeal for the building ended in 2004.  Donations go to keep the unit up to date and to the continued development of facilities for cancer patients.

1988 Foundation of Bedford Hospitals Charity
Student Nurses’ Home Appeal
£440,000
1991 MRI Scanner Appeal
£651,000
1993 First Primrose Appeal to refurbish a portakabin for a Cancer Treatment Centre
£180,000
1994 Cygnet Appeal for a Maternity and Paediatrics Wing
£120,000
1996 Support for Cardiology, ENT, Acute Pain service, Maxillofacial Surgery, Theatres and A&E
£190,000
2000 Primrose Appeal
£2,200,000
2006 Chemo Preparation Appeal
£300,000

The Charity will continue to raise funds for significant capital and equipment projects at the hospital, but was not set up to fund revenue costs. The Charity has an excellent relationship with the Hospital NHS Trust and all projects are agreed with the Trust in advance. As medical technology develops, there are always items of new equipment that are required.