A celebrity PR guru took time off from his busy schedule to present patients at Epsom Hospital with new trolleys.

Max Clifford met with staff from the main operating theatre to present 10 patient transfer trolleys worth £20,000, which were bought for the hospital with a donation from the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund (EMEF).

He said: “Although this is my first time at Epsom Hospital, a lot of my friends have been treated here over the years, and they’ve all been very complimentary about the care they’ve received and how well they were looked after. For me, this is a small way of saying thank you for the care the hospital has been giving. It’s wonderful to be here today.

“Importantly, the money raised to help buy this equipment has been donated by local people. So, this is local people giving back to local people. It’s great.”

EMEF co-ordinator Bess Harding said she was delighted that Mr Clifford, who lives in Burwood Park, Walton-on-Thames, could present “this much needed item,” on behalf of the Fund to the Main Theatre team at Epsom.

Dr Bernadette Ewah, clinical director for critical care and anaesthetics, was there to officially receive the trolleys.

She said: “These trolleys are a great boost to the department, and we owe both Epsom Medical Equipment Fund and Max a huge thank you.

“The new trolleys can be set at variable heights, which means that patients – whether young or old – can get on and off the trolley easily. They can also be adjusted so that patients can sit up or lie down as they wish. These trolleys are great news for our patients, and we hope that they will help to keep everyone we see and treat as comfortable as possible.”

The trolleys also have a number of safety features, including an integral drip stand which enables patients to continue receiving intravenous fluids during transfers between the operating theatre and recovery room, as well as a bracket to hold oxygen cylinders, should they be needed.

In recent years, Mr Clifford has advised X-Factor host Simon Cowell, Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones and the late Jade Goody.

For more information about the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, including how to make a donation, visit www.emef.org.uk or call 020 8337 8181.

To find out more about the work of Epsom Hospital, including the critical care and anaesthetics team, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk.

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