Overseas rescue mission for Wigan and Leigh Hospice

The charity has given Newton-le-Willows-based charity the Epiphany Trust 15 beds and a number of other pieces of kit to be sent to Bangladesh.

The equipment, which includes chairs, hoists and other devices to help disabled people, will be shipped out by Embrace Global Logistics.

The recipient hospitals often struggle to get their hands on the kit they need to treat patients, but are currently facing an even tougher time due to the pandemic.

The trust has long been supporting disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh. In the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster in the capital Dhaka, in which more than 1,000 people collapsed when a factory collapsed, it sent a container of beds and disability aids given by the Hindley-based hospice.

The partnership has grown since then, financing the digging of 59 wells providing clean water to remote rural areas of Bangladesh.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice said: “The beds and equipment we donated were given to us and we hoped we could use them but found they were simply not suitable for our patients’ complex needs.

We managed to sell some of the beds to make income for the hospice but unfortunately there is little demand and we were left with beds and equipment which could not be used. We are delighted that they will be put to good use in Bangladesh.”