Carryway Supply the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

Just last month, Carryway supplied the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH), based in Stanmore, with a buggy for their patient transport service.

The RNOH is a national centre of excellence and specialist orthopaedic hospital situated in Greater London, treating patients from across the UK. Many of their patients have been referred by other hospitals for second opinions or extra treatment of rare conditions.

As a world leader in neuro-musculoskeletal health care, they treat patients with spinal injuries, complex bone tumours and chronic back pain sufferers whilst also offering specialist rehabilitation for such injuries and conditions.

With thousands of patients receiving treatment from the RNOH, the hospital started their patient buggy service back in 2016 to help transport patients and visitors across their 100-acre site. With multiple departments spread across its site, the volunteer-run service has become vitally important to the hospital.

Since the service began, their fantastic team have transported more than 70,000 patients throughout the grounds, no matter the weather, making it the busiest NHS visitor transport service in the UK, run solely by volunteers. Not even ‘the Beast from the East’ stopped them in their tracks!

However, all these journeys over the years, in every weather condition imaginable, were beginning to take its toll on the buggies and in November 2018 they decided it was time for an upgrade and began raising funds through JustGiving as well as separate collections.

Thanks to major donation to their buggy fundraising appeal by a former patient who was so impressed with the service (Mr and Mrs Dyan pictured above), the RNOH were able to purchase a replacement vehicle much sooner than anticipated.

When Carryway were approached by the RNOH in November 2018 we wanted to ensure they found the right solution with all the modifications they needed, to ensure they were still able to maintain their optimum service to help patients and visitors.

Throughout this process Carryway loaned the Volunteer services team a buggy for a week, to understand what was needed, offer advice and find the perfect solution.

The solution was a Villager 4 electric transport buggy with the modifications to suit their needs. These modifications included indicators, seat belts, enclosure, rear pull out step, glass windscreen and wipers.

Last month the RNOH held a launch party to unveil their new vehicles. This buggy will help the hospital’s volunteer drivers in continuing their incredible work without compromising the level of service they offer.

With the generosity of donors and through the volunteer’s fundraising, the patient buggy service can keep on transporting the thousands upon thousands of visitors and patients for years to come.

Diane Young – Volunteer Lead said: “All the staff of Carryway have been so supportive of our service and worked with us to find the right solution for our patient’s needs. This personal service has continued even after we purchased our buggy and we would definitely use Carryway again.”