Making the difference for patients and carers

Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends raises funds to support patients & staff at Bedford Hospital by providing equipment & improving facilities – all to ensure the continued excellence of the provision of care in Bedford
Latest news
Bav Shah, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. with Bedford Hospital Staff, volunteers from BHC&F and others officially open the new CT scanner.
2024 round-up

As we welcome the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible achievements of Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends.

We’ve not written an annual report in this way before, so we’ve included achievements as presented at our recent AGM (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024) and significant achievements up to the end of 2024.

While we’ve celebrated many milestones, it’s also been a year of heartfelt farewells to two of our longest-serving supporters.

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Rob (centre) and Debbie (far right) from BHC&F with Bedford Hospital Riverbank Ward staff.
Children’s cancer services appeal seeks to improve care of young cancer patients

Bedford children being treated for cancer face a significant risk of picking up life-threatening infections requiring urgent in-patient hospital treatment.

To help these vulnerable patients avoid or tackle infections, Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends (BHC&F) are working with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to raise funds to refurbish two dedicated cancer care side rooms on Riverbank Ward at South Wing, Bedford.

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Brian's wife Sally Woodrow (centre) with their sons James and Nicholas admiring the drawing
Dedication means Brian Woodrow can continue to watch over his legacy

A dedication to Brian Woodrow OBE DL has been made by Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends (BHC&F), the charity Brian set up, at the Primrose Cancer Centre – a service he created.

Hanging a drawing, by his good friend Mandy Brookes, in his honour, so he can continue to oversee the legacy he built, Robert Oakley Deputy Chair of BHC&F said almost everyone in Bedford will have been positively impacted by Brian.

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A brief history

Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends exists to support patients and staff at Bedford Hospital by providing, improving and maintaining facilities and equipment (including both large and small items).

The Friends of Bedford Hospital were formed at the inception of the NHS in 1946 and have joined forces with the Bedford Hospitals Charity so that there is now a single charity with a common aim. The Bedford Hospitals Charity was formed in 1988 with the specific purpose of refurbishing the old Nurses Home and has continued with a series of major projects including the £2.35million Primrose Appeal for a purpose-built Oncology Unit. To date the combined charities have raised well over £11 million for the Hospital.