Hospital staff get on their bikes to raise funds

Staff at New Cross Hospital have already cycled nearly 400 miles (645km)

Staff on a hospital ward are cycling more than a thousand miles in a month to raise money for specialist equipment.

The workers from New Cross Hospital's stroke ward aim to cycle 1,170 miles (1,883km) in May.

Each mile marks an inpatient they treated last year.

Funds will go towards equipment that will monitor stroke patients with greater precision, helping to reduce life-threatening complications, the hospital said.

"We are keen to not only raise awareness and reduce the risk of future stroke, but strive towards being recognised as one the best performing stroke centres in the UK," Rachael Jones, senior advanced nurse practitioner said.

She added that the services provided by the stroke ward had seen a steady increase in the number of patients over the past five years.

The new equipment is expected to help increase the opportunity to identify a heart condition called Atrial Fibrillation, leading to improved interventions and treatments for patients.

So far, staff members have raised £800, covering nearly 400 miles (645km).