Bedside Bibles return to Macclesfield Hospital in time for Easter

This month has seen the return of bedside Bibles to wards at Macclesfield General Hospital, part of East Cheshire NHS Trust, after their removal from hospitals across the UK during the Covid pandemic.

The Bibles, which have been a familiar sight in patient’s bedside lockers since1949, were removed due to infection control risks during Covid. But now, thanks to the Christian organisation Good News for Everyone, they are being reintroduced to Macclesfield Hospital. 

Wendy Moss, a qualified nurse, is Chair of the Cheshire North branch of Good News for Everyone. Wendy is also a licenced Lay Minister with the Anglican Church and used to take Sunday services at St Luke’s Chapel at the hospital once a month pre-Covid.

Wendy said:

“Most people know us as Gideons, but a few years ago we changed our name in the UK to 'Good News for Everyone. But we’re the same people, doing the same work, just with a different name.

“I first started work here in 1978 and now I manage Newborn Hearing Screening. There have been many changes at the hospital since then, but throughout that time the presence of the Gideon Bible was always a constant comfort and reassurance for many patients, until their removal during Covid.

“We now have permission from Infection Control to distribute 'shrink-wrapped' Testaments, which can be unwrapped and used by the patients, then taken home, or wiped over easily if unused, before being returned to the locker for the next patient's use

“We’re really very grateful to the Trust for all the help and support they’ve given us in achieving this, and from this month we’ll be distributing the new Bible’s a ward at a time.

“It was sad, but completely understandable, when they were removed from patient’s lockers during Covid, so it’s wonderful to be able to begin reintroducing them in time for Easter.”      

Pictured - Ged Murphy, Chief Executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust and Wendy Moss, Newborn Hearing Screening Manager and Chair of the Cheshire North branch of Good News for Everyone.