In the run up to Christmas, I am sending, as usual, a summary of the work of the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community over the past year.
I write “as usual” – but, of course, nothing about the past few months has been “usual”. I cannot recall a year in recent times when good health, mental well-being and a sense of community have been seen as so precious.
For many of us, this year has brought worry and uncertainty. Some of you may have been (or had close friends and family who have been) unwell and/or required to isolate. Some of you may have had employment worries or home-schooling challenges. Some of you may have been bereaved. My thoughts go out to you all.
Supporting our key workers
I would like to thank the efforts of the NHS – including the staff at Savernake Hospital and at our local surgeries and care homes over the past few months – and their grit and determination in continuing to provide care under such challenging circumstances. In March, the Friends paid for Sue Brady Catering to deliver sandwiches and snacks to the Savernake Hospital staff. We have been told how much this helped to boost morale at a time when staff were under pressure with staff absences, no on-site catering, and empty shelves at the supermarket at the end of a shift.
As one nurse from Savernake Hospital wrote, “The Friends of Savernake have been incredible at looking after the staff here…. We had a few very challenging days that were made significantly better by having goodies donated. It made such a difference to morale.”
Our Shop Coordinator, together with Friends volunteers and trustees also helped with deliveries of tea, coffee and biscuits to Savernake Hospital staff right through until late August. Some also made beautiful laundry bags for nursing staff to use for their uniforms before putting them into the washing machine at the end of their shifts.
Community spirit
It has indeed been heart-warming to see how the local community has pitched in over recent months. Much has been documented in the local press. I would like to thank all those who have provided donations to the Friends. In particular, thank you to Ian Wheeler for raising over £800 in a virtual race challenge; to Waitrose Marlborough for their “green tokens” donations – a scheme they have continued during this difficult year; and to Marlborough Mayor Mark Cooper for naming Friends as one of his chosen charities for funds raised. Thank you also to Mary Brickman who made some beautiful quilts which were sold at the hospital – proceeds going to the Friends. In turn, those donations form the basis of health-related grants. As always, I emphasise that any donation, however, small, is always gratefully received and put to the best possible use in our grant-giving work.
Grant-giving in 2020
We have not seen the usual flow of grants this year, but I am pleased to report the following:
| 2020 Grants | |
| Covid-19 response – assistance to staff at Savernake Hospital – provision of lunches to staff during first weeks of lockdown | £2,410 |
| Covid-19 response – snacks supplied to Savernake Hospital staff. | £495 |
| Covid-19 response – hand creams supplied to Savernake Hospital and local care home staff | £795 |
| Kennet Community Transport – assistance with purchase of new minibus | £10,000 |
| KAMP – 50% assistance with the purchase of two portable defibrillators and accessories – one for Marlborough Medical Practice and one for Pewsey Surgery | £2,125 |
| Marlborough Community Team – doppler machine | £308 |
| Cotswold House – supplies for Social Enterprise craft group | £300 |
|
2020 Total to date |
£16,433 |
Update on previous grants
The Friends were very pleased to hear of progress on two appeals by Brighter Futures which the Friends have supported. Firstly, in August work started on the foundations of the radiotherapy unit at GWH. The Friends provided two £10,000 grants towards this £2.3 million project supporting local cancer care. More recently, GWH’s maternity department took delivery of 18 new cots, as part of its Better Births Appeal, for which the Friends provided a £10,000 grant.
New website
Earlier this year we launched our new website. If you have not yet had a chance to look at it, then please do. Our history pages continue to attract particular interest. In that regard, I would like to mention the late Alan Rix who sadly passed away in October. Alan was the administrator at Savernake Hospital and the (then) Marlborough Children’s Hospital from 1956 to 1992. In 1966 – on Savernake Hospital’s centenary – he wrote an extremely interesting booklet about the hospital. Alan and his wife Deidre (a former Savernake Hospital nurse – who pre-deceased him) also generously provided many photographs and other background memories for the history pages on our website.
AGM
We were not able to hold our AGM in May. For the moment it has been postponed, but we have submitted our accounts which we will shortly make available on our website. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to join our committee of trustees. Our primary role is to consider grants and the amount of those grants (if approved). We are conscious the hospital and health environment is forever changing – and a variety of views and insights are important to our decision-making process.
We very much hope that we will be able to hold our next AGM under normal circumstances, and to have the opportunity to catch up with members over tea and cake – face to face.
The Friends Shop
The Friends’ Shop was set up primarily as a service for Savernake Hospital patients, staff and visitors. Any profit made is added to our grant-giving funds. Many of our Shop volunteers are in the vulnerable category, and the Shop has been closed since the beginning of lockdown in March. Stock with sell-by dates was sold off cheaply or given to staff. A few volunteers were happy to return at the beginning of September with added safety precautions in place, and new stock was purchased. However, a few days before the planned reopening, there was a case of Covid at the hospital, so this could not go ahead. The trolley run to the wards, likewise, has also not operated since the Shop closed in March – but staff can now (thanks to Maureen and Lorrie, who work on reception) access necessities and treats. There is an honesty pot for payments.
Christmas 2020
The Friends are, as usual, giving Christmas cards and gifts to all patients at Savernake Hospital this year. I will not be able to distribute them myself this year – which I normally do – on Christmas Eve. I thoroughly enjoy delivering the Christmas gifts, but, this year, I will have to leave it to the wonderful hospital staff to do. Let’s hope “usual” and “normal” can be back in our vocabulary soon.
In the meantime, the Friends will continue to be there to support individuals and organisations involved in healthcare in the community and at Savernake Hospital.
Thank you for your continuing support, and, on behalf of the Friends trustees, I wish you all the very best as we enter the 2020 Christmas season.
Kind regards
Janet Louth
Co-Chair, Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community
December 2020
