The League of the Friends of Pembury Hospital

Welcome to the Twenty-first newsletter of The League of the Friends of Pembury Hospital. This is published regularly to update our existing members and to attract new members. If you would like more information about the League or matters in this newsletter, please contact Alan Davis, Honorary Secretary,

Letter from the Chairman

This year we have been celebrating our 50th year, the highlight of which was a summer ball at the Spa Hotel in June held as a joint event with our colleagues from the Kent & Sussex League of Friends. We had a very enjoyable and successful evening, making a profit of £2,500 for each League.

We are now working very closely with the Kent & Sussex League, exchanging ideas and planning for the future which should lead to our eventual merger.

The prospect of a new hospital draws ever nearer as highlighted in this newsletter, and we should all be encouraged by the progress being made.

In the meantime, the hospital has a continuing need for funds, and we will continue with our fundraising efforts, why not come and join us?

Gary Purdy

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Fundraising 2004

The Chairman has already highlighted the successful summer ball that netted a total profit of £5,000, and which was split equally between both Leagues.

We continue to collect at major stores raising substantial sums. We also collected at the Tonbridge Model Railway Run on 29 August, and due to the generosity of the members of that Society raised nearly £300.

This year's Christmas raffle will be drawn at the Trust Board meeting on 21 December 2004. The first prize of £300 has been donated by Richard Hochfeld Ltd, and the second prize of a five day return Dover/Calais for a car and up to four passengers has been donated by Seafrance.

Tickets will be available shortly at the Trust reception desk.

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Hospital News

140 people attended a recent presentation meeting at which invited would-be developers learned details of the new hospital. In December invitations to bid will be sent out, leading to a short list of four being selected, with the winner being chosen next year.

In the meantime, there will be much interchanging of departments and wards around the three Trust hospitals at Pembury, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone, before the new 596 bedded hospital finally opens.

League Merger

The Trustees of both Pembury and Kent & Sussex Leagues are working towards a full merger into one League to serve the new hospital. There are several stages to go through, including agreement by the two sets of members at forthcoming AGMs, and permission by the Charity Commission to change rules etc. The new League will support both hospitals until the Kent & Sussex closes.

In the meantime we continue to help Pembury Hospital. Recent projects include over £22,000 for an additional microscope and associated sample screening equipment for advanced liquid based pre-cancer screening for the cytology department. Lesser items include portable monitors to avoid sharing between wards, specialised seating and examination couches.

Diary Note

Jumble sale to be held in the Pembury Hospital Functions Room at 11.00 am on Saturday, 12 March 2005.

Christmas Raffle draw to be held in the Pembury Hospital Functions Room on Tuesday, 21 December 2004.

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