AN ENTIRE hospital has been moved from York to Romania in the back of two lorries.

When the Purey Cust Nuffield Hospital moved to a new building in Haxby Road in 2004, equipment and furniture from the old site was left behind.

And yesterday a dream came true for a Romanian hostel when the equipment - which has been kept clean and in good working condition - arrived at their door.

Sally Brown, general manager at Nuffield Hospital, said: "When we moved sites in 2004 the new hospital was fitted with all new equipment, but what was left in the old building was still perfectly up-to-date.

"The Rotary Club in Scarborough has been supporting a project in Romania to build a new hostel for mothers and children and Nuffield Hospital Trust agreed to donate the contents of the Purey Cust to the hostel."

This week, two 45ft articulated lorries - supplied free by Raflatac of Scarborough - arrived at the site to transport the goods to Romania.

Mrs Brown said: "The people in Romania are ecstatic. They just couldn't believe it when they heard they were getting everything lock, stock and barrel, just like that. They had been trying to raise money to buy these things, so it was a dream come true when they found out they were going to be given everything they needed."

The hostel in Vaslui, Romania, was the brainchild of the parish priest who wanted to build a permanent home for homeless women and children who had been subjected to domestic violence.

It will be called St John's Complex and will have an adjoining hospital for community use.

Staff from the Nuffield Hospital are planning a visit to Romania later this year.


What is being sent to Romania

* An operating theatre* Two anaesthetic machines* 30 hospital beds with mattresses and over-bed tables* More than 100 chairs* Six large refectory dining tables* A fully-equipped commercial kitchen