THE Torbay Hospital League of Friends has funded a new road sweeper to support the upkeep of the grounds at Torbay Hospital.

The road sweeper, named The Manic Street Sweeper, is already in daily use across the site.

Its name — a playful pun on the band Manic Street Preachers — was chosen following a public vote from a shortlist suggested by colleagues with more than 500 people taking part, adding a bit of personality to a vehicle that plays an important behind the scenes role every day.

Funded entirely by the Torbay Hospital League of Friends, the new road sweeper supports the practical work of keeping roads and pathways clear across a large and busy hospital site, particularly during periods of high footfall and challenging weather.

Martin Tucker, Chairman of Torbay Hospital League of Friends, said: ‘We are pleased to have been able to fund something so useful and visible.

‘This is a piece of equipment that will be used every day and that’s exactly the kind of difference our supporters want to make.

‘It was also great to see colleagues and the public get involved in choosing the name — it really captured the spirit of the hospital community’.

Johnathan Hawkins, Environment and Waste Operations Manager, said: ‘Having this road sweeper on site is already making a real difference to how we manage the estate.

‘It supports our teams to keep key routes clear and the hospital looking well cared for, which matters for everyone coming onto the site.

‘We are very grateful to Torbay Hospital League of Friends for their continued support’.

Torbay Hospital League of Friends has been supporting Torbay Hospital for more than 70 years and received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2012.

The League continues to fund equipment and improvements that go above and beyond NHS provision, always with the aim of enhancing patient care and experience.

For more information about the League of Friends and how you can support their work, Torbay Hospital League of Friends.