They were urgently bought in preparation for a feared wave of Covid patients needing treatment in the Swansea Bay area. But while hospitals struggled to cope with immense pressures during the pandemic, the single beds and mattresses set-up ready at field hospitals in the region were, thankfully, not required.
Now a health board is set to find a better home for the beds. They will be given free of charge to families in need and people who have been homeless, or who may be struggling to afford something soft to sleep on. The beds will also be offered to refugees, including people arriving in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot from Ukraine. A matching service has recently been created, connecting British households and Ukrainians seeking asylum, by a former refugee living in Swansea. You can read more about that by clicking here.
Swansea Bay University Health Board has said it is working with local partnership agencies to help identify families and refugees in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot who could benefit from the 595 beds it has to donate.
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Project lead for Bay Field Hospital, Sally Bloomfield said: “The field hospital beds were there in case we needed them, and it is fantastic that because of vaccinations and other measures put in place during the pandemic we have not had to use them. But now we have an opportunity to ensure they can still be used for people who really need them.” An appeal is also going out to health board staff to donate spare new pillows and single duvets, and freshly-laundered or new single bed linen in good condition.
The health board said the field hospital beds were only meant for short-term use in an emergency situation. They are unsuitable for main acute hospitals or community NHS or health settings, as the basic beds lack the pedals and motors needed to raise and lower patients. However, the beds are more than robust enough for every day domestic use, and come with waterproof mattresses and head and foot boards.
Service improvement manager, Amanda Davies, added: “There is a real opportunity now to make a positive difference to the lives of many Swansea Bay residents facing adversity, and also refugees arriving here for sanctuary. The cost of living is rising significantly and we know that more people within our communities are facing financial hardship.
“It is likely that people including children who are living without a proper bed to sleep in or who are sleeping on floors or sharing single beds will encounter health problems. Having a new bed of their own will help them get a good night’s sleep and support their health and wellbeing. What we do now to address bed poverty within our communities will positively impact upon the wellbeing of our future generations.”
Ms Bloomfield added: “We also realise that if someone is finding it difficult to afford a bed, then they will likely need support to dress it too. So we are asking our staff to help if they can, by donating spare bed linen that we can hand out with the beds as a complete package.” You can sign up to the latest newsletters featuring articles from the Swansea area by clicking here.
The health board, which said it was not able to receive bed requests directly from individuals, is working with Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils and the two councils for voluntary services in Swansea Bay, which will identify potential families to receive the beds on its behalf. Organisations supporting refugees, including people coming from Ukraine, can also apply for some of the beds.
