A SMALL charity has been launched to provide extra comfort for patients who are admitted to new community NHS beds known as “step-up/step-down beds.”

The beds were introduced across Hambleton and Richmondshire for patients needing health care to prevent them from having to go into hospital or to provide some further care.

They are a short stay arrangement in extra care housing schemes, available for up to six weeks to deliver care closer to home and the beds, medical equipment, basic furnishings and services are funded by the local clinical commissioning group.

And to help make patients feel more at home the Health Accommodation Trust has now been set-up, raising funds to make the new accommodation as welcoming as possible.

"This could be a sofa bed for a visiting relative, bedside lamp, pictures, wall clock, mirror or even a vase for flowers," said founding trustee Jane Ritchie.

Anyone interested in supporting HAT should contact Jane Ritchie via richmondshire.hen@nhs.net or calling 01609-767600.