Current Projects

We Are One

Staff were delighted to unveil the We Are One mural at the L&D.

The display, located on the first floor of the Surgical Block, was created by members of the take heART team to celebrate the rich multicultural heritage of our staff in the trust.

The trust is currently made up of colleagues from more than 100 di­fferent countries and, throughout our 75+ year history, many more have been pivotal in creating a lasting legacy for us all.

Yvonne Osuagwu, Project Lead, said: “I learned a great deal working on this project and met many delightful people. I am especially grateful to Janet Graham who spent time with me going through the hospital archives.”

Dr Rachel Chater and Dr Sheena McLaggan, take heART founders, added: “It was really wonderful to see this important take heART project come to life, celebrating the longstanding rich cultural diversity of our workforce and all they have to offer our patients, their families and each other.

“We are hugely grateful to Yvonne Osuagwu and Carol Smith, Librarian at Bedford Hospital and BAME staff network member, who came up with the concept for this installation. We would also like to thank Fiona Wilson, graphic artist, for creating this eye-catching mural.”

Under the Surface

In December 2023, a new gallery space in the L&D’s newly built main entrance opened.

Following on from our summer events where we looked at the talents and interests of our staff members outside of work, the gallery is titled Under the Surface and showcases the talents of one of our wonderful colleagues, Jason Lee.

Jason works in the Trust as a waste porter for ISS, but in his spare time is an experienced diver and passionate, dedicated and talented underwater photographer.

The pictures take a look at the wonders that lie under the ocean’s surface, and through a series of seascapes and sea creatures, encourage us to be curious about the wonderful and often unanticipated qualities that lie beneath the exterior. This is yet another reminder of the amazing staff we have working at our hospitals and how their skills and hobbies outside of work can translate to having a positive influence on their work, and benefit our local community. They are amazing, aweinspiring pieces that really brighten up our new main entrance area.

Thank you to Jason for kindly donating your wonderful photography for display and to our take heART team for their work to significantly improve and brighten up this space, and many other areas around both hospitals.

Supporting the Wellbeing of our Staff through Creativity

We have held a number of artist-led creative workshops for our staff with overwhelmingly positive feedback:

“A relaxing, calming, therapeutic escape”

“Amazing workshop – really enjoyed myself”

“Was lovely to sit, chill and get creative!”