Operating tables, trolleys, beds and mattresses have all been shipped from the North-West to hospitals and care homes in Harare, Zimbabwe, where former Preston man Bill Moore now lives.

The donation came about thanks to Bill's friendship with Ken Cookson, a manual handling advisor at University Hospital Aintree.

Bill and Ken, both 58, have been friends for almost 50 years since they grew up together in the Plungington area of Preston, and they stayed in touch when Bill emigrated to Zimbabwe 27 years ago.

Ken said: "During his time in Zimbabwe, Bill has become involved in a number of charities, particularly St John Ambulance.

"When he visited England earlier this year, he told me about how there had been a cholera epidemic at some of the more remote hospitals, where they had nothing. At that time, I was leading a project at Aintree University Hospitals Trust to replace all trolleys in Accident and Emergency, so I told him to apply to the trust to see if the disused equipment could be donated to the Zimbabwe hospitals."

Bill was delighted when the trust agreed to hand over the equipment, which was shipped to Zimbabwe with the help of African company Econet and SDB Engineering.

More than 90 pieces of medical equipment, including trauma trolleys, patient hoists, suction machines, hospital beds and an examination couch, were transported.

Bill said: "I'd like to thank everyone at Aintree University Hospital Trust, especially, of course, my old mate Ken.
"Everyone at the Trust has been wonderfully co-operative and the effect this equipment will have on the lives of those patients in Harare is unimaginable."