Shropshire Star

Audrey donates late husband’s car to Oswestry spinal injuries centre

A patient has generously donated a wheelchair-accessible car to the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries, near Oswestry, as a token of her thanks for the care she received from its staff.

Published
MCSI staff with patient, Audrey Berrisford, and the car she has donated to the centre

Staff from the centre, based at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), say the Fiat Diablo will make a huge difference to other patients, as it will help to support home visits and appointments, as well as with patient discharge.

After attending a follow-up appointment at the hospital, Audrey Berrisford met with staff to express her gratitude for the long-standing care she has received from them and announced she would be donating her late husband’s car to assist with their work.

She said: “My husband, Derek passed away in April of this year and it occurred to me that his car would end up just standing on the drive, not being used, so my son and daughter suggested that I sell it or give it away to a charity or an organisation, and I thought of MCSI straight away.

“The care I’ve received during my time as a patient here has been absolutely tremendous, so this really is my way of giving something back.”

“It was the car my husband used to drive me to and from my appointments here, so I hope it will benefit other patients and also the wonderful staff, who work on MCSI.”

Mrs Berrisford first became a patient at RJAH in July 2009, after falling down the stairs at her home in Endon, near Stoke-on-Trent, and as a result, suffered a spinal cord injury. She ended up staying at RJAH for six months, following her accident.

Generous

Barbie Simmons, MCSI resettlement and community liaison officer, said: “We can’t thank Mrs Berrisford enough for this amazingly generous donation. This is going to benefit our patients and our department hugely.

“For our patients, it means one of us is going to be able to take them to appointments, as well as on home visits.

“This will also support us with being able to discharge the patients and take them home, rather than rely on an ambulance or another form of transport.”

Lynne Morris, service manager, said: “On behalf of MCSI, I’d like to express our sincere gratitude for this wonderfully kind donation from Mrs Berrisford.

“This vehicle is going to make a huge difference to our patients.

“Having the extra car will give the team the flexibility to plan and support our patient discharges.

“As a specialist spinal injuries centre, it is so important that when a patient is ready for discharge that we can facilitate this, so that the bed is available as quickly as possible for the next patient waiting to transfer to us.”