Lack of friends closes charity after 70 years
ACHARITY which has donated more than £1 million for lifesaving equipment for hospital patients has made the “difficult and sad” decision to fold after 70 years.
The Friends of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will hold its final AGM this month after failing to find volunteers to fill committee roles at the organisation.
It brings to an end seven decades of vital fundraising for the hospital as well as a social network for retiring doctors and nurses.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust was “hugely indebted” to the group, said chief executive Deborah Lee.
Dr Brian Witcombe, spokesman for the friends’ group, said: “Older members have not been replaced by new enthusiasts so organisational burdens have been concentrated on fewer shoulders.
“It has led to increased difficulty in finding members to fulfil committee posts over the last few years, and so it was agreed with reluctance that the friends’ group no longer continue. After 70 years, the group will no longer be here adding icing to the NHS cake. I’d like to thank everyone for their support.”
The group worked in tandem with the hospital NHS trust. When equipment was needed, requests were received by the group which used money raised through endowments, donations and fundraising activities to pay for them. They included patient monitors, ultra-sound equipment and spinal beds. In total, more than £1.25 million was given to the trust, but in more recent years the amount reduced. In 2017, the charity spent just over £20,000.
Dr Witcombe, who worked for 27 years as a radiologist at the hospital, said: “We have tended to focus our money on areas of the hospital where the appeal for donations was not so strong, such as areas for longstay and the elderly.
“Of course, it was a difficult and sad decision to make, but I think we really had no option.”
Dr Witcombe said one of the factors behind the charity’s closure was the emergence of the hospital trust’s own charitable group. In 2016/17, it spent almost £1 million, with most of it going toward new equipment.
Cheltenham General Hospital League of Friends has also been struggling. In his annual report for 2017, chairman Les Poulter said the committee was having difficulty raising money.
Ms Lee, in her report to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust’s January board meeting, said: “The trust hosted a service of thanks to recognise the end of an incredible chapter in the trust’s history as it said thank you and goodbye to the Friends of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
“Over 70 years of support, the Friends have provided more than £1.25 million of funding to the trust to support the care and comfort of patients and staff. The trust is hugely indebted to those that have served the friends over their seven decades.”
The charity started out as the Gloucester and District Welfare Fund before changing its name to the League of Friends of the Gloucester Royal and Maternity Hospitals in 1980.
The current name was adopted in 2005. A tree has been planted and a plaque of recognition installed at the hospital as a reminder of the charity’s work.