St Bernard’s Hospital has received a donation from the Kusuma Trust of nine Bristol Maid (BM) chairs for the Rainbow Ward to make parents’ overnight stays at the bedside of their hospitalised children more comfortable. 

BM chairs are especially designed, versatile multi-functional pieces of hospital furniture that can easily be transformed into a lounge recliner or flat bed. Upholstered with flame-retardant, antimicrobial vinyl, it allows parents to sleep beside their children without taking up a patient bed, while also being easily stowed away each morning to maintain a clean, work environment for medical and nursing teams. 

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee said: “We are very grateful to the Kusuma Trust for their kindness and ongoing commitment to support the service we provide to the community. These chairs are more than just a convenience. They are a practical help, improving the comfort for families at a very difficult time for them, helping to reduce the stress and fatigue that comes with spending a whole night on a rigid, standard chair.” 

The Minister for Health and Care, Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “I would like to thank the Kusuma Trust for the donation of these special chairs which will be put to good and immediate use at the Rainbow Ward. Enhancing the hospital experience of patients and their relatives especially in the case of children, is very important to us. Any parent who has faced the worry of an overnight stay with their child in hospital will appreciate just how valuable these new recliner-to-bed chairs will be in offering comfort and rest during a difficult time.”