15/09/2025
There is nothing more rewarding as a charity than when a family give back to the ward that cared for a loved one in their final days. Thank you to the Douglas family for remembering Bryan and honouring his memory with a foldaway bed for Peale Ward., where Bryan sadly passed away 12 months ago today.
A family has donated a fold-out visitors' bed to a ward at Maidstone Hospital in memory of a much-loved husband and father, saying they were “deeply grateful” to the staff who cared for him during his final days.
Bryan Douglas was well known locally for his involvement in business and community life in Maidstone. He died in September last year and spent his final days on Peale Ward, where his family stayed by his side throughout.
The new fold-out bed, donated to our MTW Hospitals Charity , will be kept on the ward and used by family members who wish to stay overnight.
His wife and daughters say the gift is their way of giving back to the ward and helping other families in the same situation.
"When Bryan was admitted unexpectedly, it quickly became clear how important it was to him - and to us - to be by his side.
"We stayed with him throughout the week...one of the members of staff, kindly tracked down and arranged for us to use one of the hospital’s visitor beds.
"That simple act brought comfort we badly needed, and made the physical strain of those days a little easier to bear.
"We hope this bed donated in Bryan’s memory offers others even a little of the support we so desperately needed and were so grateful to receive.”
