In recent months various grants have been given to departments based at Savernake Hospital. Cotswold House was given a grant to purchase items for a “Calm Down Box” for patients in their specialist eating-disorder unit. As one staff member of the unit explained, “Due to the nature of eating disorders, our patients can come under huge amounts of stress on a regular basis. The ‘calm down box’ aims to alleviate some of the anxiety that builds up… Ultimately, this will help them cope with their eating disorder and enable them to discover new ways of lowering their mood without restricting, purging or other maladaptive coping styles.”
The Friends also provided a grant to the Savernake Hospital Eye Clinic to purchase a specialist lens.
After the success by the Burbage Patient Participation Group and local community to raise the remaining amount needed to replace their internal and external surgery doors, the Friends handed over the £2,000 they had pledged, subject to the remaining amount being raised. As commented by Friends chairman, Janet Louth, “The Friends applaud the efforts made by local patient participation groups – notably Burbage and Great Bedwyn – on their fundraising efforts for their local surgeries and patients.”
The Friends have since provided a further £500 towards the installation of bollards in the surgery car park.
