The League of the Friends of Pembury Hospital

Welcome to the Twenty-fourth 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

Our Annual General Meeting takes place on 26 April 2006 and in my Annual Report I announced that we donated nearly £15,000 to Pembury Hospital during 2005.

As plans move forward for the demolition of the lower site in readiness for the new hospital, our shop closed in January after more than 30 years of proud service.

One of the last acts of the shop was to play host to our Grand Raffle Draw just before Christmas, which raised nearly £1,300 for projects at the hospital.

Our fundraising efforts continue with collections outside major stores - watch out for members collecting in your area - coffee mornings, jumble sales and other activities. We are always in need of volunteers, so please get in touch if you can give up a few hours to help us.

Gary Purdy

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Shop Reminiscences

On a cold January day a large number of volunteers gathered at the hospital shop for one last time to bid farewell to each other and the shop.

Sue and Ken Marsh and Mavis Somerset were there with a welcoming cup of coffee and cake as we reminisced about the many years of loyal service given by the shop volunteers and the funds that had been raised for the League as a result.

In particular we knew how much we would miss the annual get together which Sue and Mavis hosted each year, where we always enjoyed wonderful food and company. Working at the shop meant a great deal to all the volunteers. Not only were funds raised for the hospital, but the camaraderie and friendship were a valued feature of doing this voluntary work.

The hospital shop will, therefore, be much missed by us all not only because of the funds it raised, but for the sense of community and help it provided to patients and staff, and to those who worked in it.

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Hospital News

We have been advised that the final choice of the developer for the new hospital will be made shortly. The schedule is; initial clearing etc early 2007; building to start late 2007, with a three year build to an opening date Autumn 2010.

Plans for the hospital reveal that it will be a showpiece. It will have 512 beds, all in single rooms. Some children's rooms will have space for a parent to stay overnight. The setting will give window views of adjoining woodlands, and much use of natural light will give an improved factility for patients and staff.

A new second entrance will be constructed for use by contractor's vehicles initially, and will then become the main entrance for all cars and buses to the 1200 car park spaces and hospital departments.

Projects

£3,000 has been approved to purchase a photodynamic therapy lamp for the Dermatology Clinic. This with a special cream, is a new treatment to kill pre-cancerous skin lesions.

£7,000 has been approved to purchase five epidural pain pumps to provide drug treatment by the Pain Clinic for patients in maternity and other departments.

Fundraising

The Christmas 2005 raffle was again generously supported by Richard Hochfeld Ltd and Sea France who provided first and second prizes.

Diana Barber's coffee morning raised a magnificent sum of £2,665 and shop collections during 2005 totalled some £2,616.

Shop Collections

Betty Law wants to thank everyone who was kind enough to help with collections last year, especially Mr Peter Pallett who stepped in at the last minute when his wife was unavailable.

We still need volunteers to stand outside major stores and if you can spare some time, please contact Betty on 01892 834149. The next scheduled collection is 7/8 July at Beales in Tonbridge.

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