The NHS in Bedfordshire set about thanking all estates and facilities members working across hospitals this week in their third annual Estates Day event.
On Wednesday (18 June), charities, suppliers and contractors came together at Bedford Hospital to help celebrate the “unsung heroes” that keep the hospital running.
Kevan Hughes, Head of Site Services and Facilities at the hospital, emphasised the event’s importance in showing how across the hospital they are “very proud of everybody, and all the people behind the scenes,” who are “sometimes taken for granted.”
He credits Wendy Price, Senior Estates Manager, for helping to organise and facilitate all the donations.
With a BBQ stall, raffles run by Hygiene Systems Limited and a mountain of cakes provided by Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends and La Rondine among other donations, Bedfordian spirit was definitely on show in championing the Estate staff that the day celebrates.
Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends supports the event, with charity chair Deborah Inskip stating the importance of highlighting the nearly 300 employees who are the “nuts and bolts of Bedford Hospital.”
Cakes for all
This includes porters, cleaners, chefs, and maintenance personnel, among many others, who primarily work in the background, ensuring the hospital’s medical staff can do what is needed to help patients and other hospital users.
The charity supplied the event with over 10 boxes full of goods from La Rondine bakery on Queen Street. Sav Garganese, owner of the bakery, said that he’s “always had a soft touch” for the work done at the hospital and often helps out with charitable occasions.
His mother worked in the laundry at the hospital, so his affiliation is personal. According to Sav, Estates Day “shows a real community,” and he was happy to be approached by Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends to help.
Hughes commented that the “massive growth” of the event is down to the generosity of local businesses and charities. He hopes to see the event grow in years to come – an important day that he says celebrates the “everyday people.”
