Bedford children being treated for cancer will invariably be undergoing outpatient treatment delivered by either Great Ormond Street or Addenbrookes hospitals.
With anybody receiving chemotherapy, there is a significant risk of having very low immunity and picking up life-threatening infections requiring urgent in-patient hospital treatment.
Currently, these children have to take rapid journeys to Addenbrookes or Great Ormond Street (GOSH) whilst acutely ill.
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.
This will allow these patients to receive rapid specialist treatment to combat these infections without needing to travel to London or Cambridge and any other care that might suddenly be required.
We are also raising funds to pay for the first year’s salary for a dedicated cancer care nurse specialist who will work alongside our specialised Paediatric doctors to deliver this care.
This will allow families to remain in close contact with their loved ones, especially as the rooms will permit a family member to stay with their children too. They also have a special air conditioning supply that prevents infection from entering these dedicated rooms.
This will represent a huge step up in urgent treatment availability for Bedford children who very sadly are undergoing cancer treatment.
You can donate to BHC&F to help support this appeal here.
Thank you very much on their behalf for your much-needed support.
