News

Carol singers bring festive cheer to hospital wards

16th December 2019 by Richard Batson

Young carol singers brought a surprise package of Christmas cheer to patients at North Walsham hospital at the weekend.

*Broadland Youth Choir during their carol singing visit*

Members of the Broadland Youth Choir toured the wards at the town’s War Memorial Hospital, singing festive songs to appreciative patients and their visiting families.

It is a treat provided by the hospital Friends group, which uses public donations to buy “extras” to improve the lives of patients, staff and visitors.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We get really positive feedback about our annual carols visit. Patients really enjoy it, and are sometimes moved to tears, particularly because the carols are sung by children.”

Hannah Royal musical director of the 25-strong Salhouse-based choir said: “We are doing eight performances over Christmas ranging from a major church carol service to singing outside a supermarket – but the children say the hospital is their favourite because everyone smiles and we get lots of ‘thank you’ messages from families.”

Friends’ funds will help provide new relatives room

15th November 2019 by Richard Batson

An overnight stay room for relatives is planned at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital – paid for by public donations channelled through its Friends group.

The scheme, using a former team meeting room, will enable people visiting patients, who come from all over the county, to stay overnight and be close to their loved one.

It is among the wish list items for the Friends in the coming year outlined by chairman Keith Jarvis at the annual meeting.

There are also plans to brighten up a brick wall view from a ward window with a cheery mural using the art skills of students at Paston College.

Last year’s highlights included the opening of a £22,000 day room revamp, new garden furniture and a shed for use by a new team of volunteer gardeners – as well as the usual Armistice Day service, plus festive gifts and carols for patients spending Christmas on the wards.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital new shed funded by the Friends — *The new shed at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital funded by the Friends. Press officer Richard Batson proudly shows it off.*

Mr Jarvis said the Friends also added weight to staff concerns about introducing parking charges, which was dropped. They had stepped up liaison with the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust which runs the unit to get a clearer picture of wider health strategy.

Friends’ funds, mainly from public donations, gifts from grateful patients, and money in lieu of funeral flowers, were boosted by the previous town mayor Barry Hester making the charity his civic cause of the year, generating more than £4200.

The meeting also updated the Friends rules, including streamlining its name to The Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, removing the words League and Cottage, to make it simpler for people knowing how to label donations.

Mr Jarvis, secretary Angie Batson and treasurer Carol Willgress were all re-elected. Other committee members are Richard Batson, Zana Jarvis, Margaret Johnson, James Plummer, and Sue Yaxley.

*Friends committee members at the 2019 agm.*

Thanks were given to two long-standing committee members, Nancy Downey and Jim Hardy, who stepped down.

North Walsham Hospital Friends long serving committee members — *Long serving Friends committee members Jim Hardy and Nancy Downey who have stood down.*

Damp shall not deter them

11th November 2019 by Richard Batson

There was a good turnout for the 2019 Armistice Day service at the hospital memorial stone, despite grey rainy weather.

*Friends and Royal British Legion representatives at the 2019 Armistice Day service, with vicar the Rev Canon Paul Cubitt.*

It was led by the vicar of North Walsham, the Rev Canon Paul Cubitt, who paid tribute to the men who gave their lives in war – and praised the 40 people to turned out to honour them in damp dismal weather.

Wreaths were laid by Friends chairman Keith Jarvis and the Royal British Legion.

One hospital supporter who could not attend Monday’s service left two poignant painted “poppy” stones on the memorial.

*A painted stone left on the war memorial for Armistice Day 2019*

Ninety nine men from the town lost their lives in the First World War and another 88 from the surrounding villages.

The hospital was built in their memory, using funds from a public appeal. It was opened in 1923, and the original memorial stone transferred to the current building.

Their memory lives on – as does the public support for the hospital, which is channelled through donations to the Friends.

*Friends chairman Keith Jarvis, treasurer Carol Willgress and secretary Angie Batson at the memorial.*

Friends’ work in spotlight at trust annual meeting

29th September 2019 by Richard Batson

North Walsham hospital was in the spotlight at the annual general meeting of the community health and care trust which runs it.

Our £20,000 Day Room refurbishment, which the Friends paid for, was among the examples of how fundraising is helping make a difference to the delivery of services.

*North Walsham Day Room on the agm screen*

Some are funded by a central pot of charitable cash held by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust. Others, like the Day Room, by local Friends groups.

They totalled £450,000 across the Trust last year the agm was told by non executive director Lorna Bailey.

Other projects across the county ranged from a £28,000 worth of sensory room for disabled children to £1000 worth of gardening equipment – as well as dementia champion and health coach training.

The agm, on Thursday September 26, also heard the trust had spent £3.7m on capital projects (buildings and equipment). It is also facing a loss of £12.6m – fuelled by an ongoing £6,1m VAT tax bill issue and revaluation of assets which lost a further £5.2m. Without those two exceptional figures the loss was £1.9m with the aim of breaking even next year.

Despite all the challenges facing the health services, the meeting was an upbeat affair, with some inspirational, and entertaining, presentations from senior executives to community nurses.

The Friends deputation who attended the agm came away realising our work is necessary …and appreciated.

Laying the foundations for hospital’s proud history

5th September 2019 by Richard Batson

An historic moment for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital happened 100 years ago this month.

A foundation stone was laid which marked the start of a hospital which has brought treatment, care, and comfort to generations of patients – and a bevy of babies into the world.

North Walsham Hospital Friends foundation stone — *Friends secretary Angie Batson recreates Lady Suffield’s laying of the hospital foundation stone 100 years ago. Picture: Richard Batson*

The hospital’s Friends group has recreated the moment to remind people how vital public support was at the beginning of its proud history – and still is today.

Friends secretary Angie Batson taking the role of Lady Suffield who performed the ceremony on September 17 1919. Mrs Batson wore an Edwardian-style outfit supplied by The Community and Theatre Wardrobe at Sheringham.

*Recreating the laying of the foundation stone.*

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We didn’t want this important centenary occasion to go un-noticed, so we thought we would make it happen again.

“The hospital was built using funds and land gifted by local people, after a public meeting earlier in 1919 voted unanimously to provide a hospital in memory of the men who gave their lives in the First World War.

“Although today’s rebuilt hospital is run by the NHS, it still has a big place in the hearts of local people because of the care it provides. And the Friends continue to rely on public support for funding the ‘extras’ the NHS cannot provide. So the bond between the hospital and the community is still strong today – which is something we want to celebrate. “

Work on the hospital did not start until 1923 while the funding was completed. It was opened in August 1924 by Princess Marie Louise. Over the years it has carried out minor operations, and provided post-operative and rehabilitation care – as well as a maternity unit.

It was demolished in 2011 to be replaced by a new unit the following year. The original site is now a wildflower meadow.

Over the past decade the Friends have provided “extras” worth around £400,000, ranging from a new training suite, and refit of the day room, to presents and carol singing to cheer up patients at Christmas.

FLASHBACK TO 1919

Edwardian VIPs wore their Sunday best for the foundation stone laying, a cutting from the Eastern Daily Press on September 18 1919 reported.

Ladies are seen sporting their best hats and long skirts, gentlemen a mixture of bowlers, trilbies and big caps.

Lady Suffield at the 1919 ceremony. Picture EDP news cutting

Lady Suffield did the honours with a silver trowel, and said simply: “I declare this stone to be well and truly laid, and I trust that the hospital which is to be erected on this site will have a very prosperous and successful future.”

Guests included war memorial committee chairman John Dixon, and high sheriff Mr F H Barclay.

A string of speakers stressed that the hospital aimed to complement rather than rival the Norfolk and Norwich, and the crowd was told that it would cost £4678. Prayers were said and schoolchildren sang a hymn. The day finished with a tennis tournament which raised £5 for hospital funds.

Carol singers bring festive cheer to hospital wards

Friends’ funds will help provide new relatives room

Damp shall not deter them

Friends’ work in spotlight at trust annual meeting

Laying the foundations for hospital’s proud history

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer