Wonder bed ramps donated to hospice
(Unknown January 2008)

ON THE MOVE: above, from left, Sister Angela Doran, Alison Briant, director of clinical governance and development, Patrick Hughes, of Harmill Systems Ltd and Sister Sally Bonsor are pictured with one of the new ramps used to wheel out a bed into hospice grounds.

Specially-designed ramps have been donated to The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted to make it easier to move patients while in their beds.

State-of-the-art electric beds can be uncomfortable for patients when hospice staff try to manoeuvre them outside, so patients can enjoy being in the hospice's gardens.
Hearing of the charity's problem, Patrick Hughes, who is the managing director of Harmill Systems in Leighton Buzzard, set about designing purpose-built ramps.

Installed last month, the new ramps allow the nurses to move the beds into the garden with ease and with no discomfort to patients.
If there was an emergency requiring fast evacuation, the beds could be quickly and safely moved straight out of the individual patient bedroom doors and away from the building.

Alison Briant at the hospice, said: "The Hospice of St Francis is very grate¬ful to Mr Hughes and his team for the generosity of this gift.
"This ramp allows patients to use the wonder¬ful gardens and addresses an array of health and safety issues."