Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital

That’s what Friends are for

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Friends bring fun and games to North Walsham Hospital

9th February 2020 by Richard Batson

Patients and visitors at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital can enjoy playing board games and doing jigsaws thanks to a little help from the Friends.

We have donated a selection of games, including Scrabble and Connect 4.

North Walsham Hospital Friends board games gifts
Game on: Friends chairman Keith Jarvis, secretary Angie Batson, and committee members Zana Jarvis and Sue Yaxley with the games donated to North Walsham War Memorial Hospital.

The Friends channel public donations and fundraising into a range of ”extras” aimed at improving the lives of patients, visitors and staff.


Chairman Keith Jarvis said: “The games came from a suggestion by staff to provide something to entertain patients and their visitors. Time can sometimes seem to pass slowly in hospital and this will hopefully help patients amuse themselves or have a fun time with their visiting families and friends.”

The games and some replacement TV controls for the wards and day room cost  £104. Other schemes to help the hospital are in the pipeline for 2020, so watch this space on our website, or follow our Facebook page, to keep in touch with our work. 

Filed Under: Committee, Fundraising Tagged With: North Walsham Hospital Friends

Hospital unveils day room makeover and says ‘that’s what Friends are for’

29th January 2019 by Richard Batson

A £22,000 facelift has turned the hospital day room into a welcoming space where patients and visitors can relax and reminisce.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Day Room, Friendship Room, Norman Lamb, Keith Jarvis
MP Norman Lamb with guests at the opening of the revamped Friendship Room at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital. Pic by Richard Batson

The project at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital was paid for by the League of Friends, which channels public funding donations into “extras” to benefit patients, families and staff.

The day room has been renamed the Friendship Room in recognition of the Friends’ work and to reflect its use as space where patients and visitors can relax and chat away from the wards.

It was officially opened by MP Norman Lamb who said it showed the value of the Friends’ work, and the strength of community support for the hospital.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Day Room, Friendship Room, Norman Lamb, Keith Jarvis
Guests at the reopening of the revamped day room. Pic by Richard Batson

The hospital, which also has social care and clinics such as physiotherapy, fitted the new long term NHS vision to deliver more care closer to people’s homes he added.

One wall of the refurbished Friendship Room has been transformed with a giant mural of a sun-dappled woodland, and another adorned with archive pictures of the hospital and town as a conversation piece for patients.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said the group was formed in 1949, two years after the NHS and had a proud history of supporting the local hospital – from providing a new training room to Christmas gifts for patients.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Day Room, Friendship Room, Norman Lamb, Keith Jarvis
The celebration cake made by Ema Scott-Rowlands of DottyAboutCakes. Pic by Richard Batson

The day room project also includes a new television, blinds, flooring and furniture. It is also planned to renew furniture in the garden patio area outside the day room, for people to enjoy in good weather.

Among the guests at opening was town mayor Barry Hester who has made the Friends his civic charity of the year and has so far raised £2850.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Day Room, Friendship Room, Norman Lamb, Keith Jarvis
Guests at the reopening of the revamped day room. Pic by Richard Batson

The hospital is run by the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust whose chief executive Josie Spencer added: “We are lucky to have people like the Friends who are willing to work on local initiatives like this – which can be projects we cannot afford, or would take longer to achieve without their help.”

The Friends are keen to recruit new members to help them in their work. If you are interested visit the How To Help section of this website.

Filed Under: Committee, Events, Fundraising Tagged With: North Walsham, North Walsham Hospital Friends

Day room revamp opens door to nostalgia and woodland

15th November 2018 by Richard Batson

Visitors to North Walsham hospital’s day room can take a trip back in time or into a leafy woodland glade thanks to the efforts of its Friends and public generosity.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp. Friends and ward sister Kerry Howarth by the new woodland wall mural. Picture; Richard BatsonA £20,000-plus revamp of the room at War Memorial Hospital has just been completed.

It features a full wall forest mural and a selection of archive photos showing the historic hospital and the town centre.

It was paid for using donations made to the hospitals League of Friends, who provide “extras” that are beyond the health service budget. Friends members got a glimpse of the room’s facelift after their annual general meeting.

Chairman Keith Jarvis said: “We hope the room will provide a homely, relaxing place for patients and their families to spend time together.

“The woodland wall is very tranquil, and the old pictures should provide a conversation piece and a reflection of the proud nursing heritage we have here in North Walsham.”

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp. Hospital Friends look at the display of archive pictures. Picture: Richard BatsonThe archive pictures – a selection of which are below – were provided by the North Walsham and District Community Archive.

 

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp. Save Our Baby Beds campaign 1985. Picture; North Walsham and District Community Archive.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp
North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp. Archive pic of a ward in the original hospital. Picture: North Walsham and District Community Archive.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Day Room revamp. Archive pic of 1984 tree planting by the Friends, led by chairman Brian Elliott. Picture: North Walsham and District Community ArchiveThe project also includes a new television, blinds, flooring and furniture. It is also planned to renew furniture and provide raised flower beds in the garden patio area outside the day room, for people to enjoy in good weather.

A formal opening of the new-look day room will be is planned in the coming months.

During the previous year the Friends received £2354 in donations and £2280 in lieu of flowers at funerals, the annual meeting heard.

The group spent around £11,000 on buildings and equipment ranging from soundproofing a training room to a microwave oven and fan. The Friends also organise Christmas carol singing and gifts.

Chairman Keith Jarvis, secretary Angela Batson and treasurer Carol Willgress were re-elected at the 69th annual meeting.

Mr Jarvis reported that the Friends had also helped provide replica flags to remember the town’s two First World War Red Cross hospitals which nursed injured troops.  They were also pleased to be town mayor Barry Hester’s nominated civic charity this year.

For other archive pictures – and updates on the Friends work – also see our Facebook page.  

Filed Under: Committee, Events, Fundraising, history Tagged With: Keith Jarvis, North Walsham Hospital Friends

Hospitals Friends launch into future with new blood

21st September 2017 by Wayne Beauchamp

New Committee

A hospital league of friends group has opened a new chapter with a new team at its helm.

A question mark hung over the future of the group at North Walsham since long-serving duo Brian Elliott and Brian Blackburn said it could fold unless new blood came along to run it.

But a new chairman, secretary and treasurer have stepped forward and are urging the public to continue their support for the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital League of Friends.

Incoming chairman Keith Jarvis, from Trunch, worked in the estates section of the health service for 29 years including dealing with North Walsham before retirement. He is also a governor at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and chairman of North Walsham Rugby club.

He said: “The two Brians have done a brilliant job, but the friends are in good hands and will continue to be a link between the community and the hospital.”

New secretary is Angela Batson, admissions assistant at Gresham’s School, and treasurer is Carol Willgress, a former catering equipment company office manager – both from Southrepps.

Mr Elliott, who has been chairman for the past 36 years, said it was the end of an era for him and Mr Blackburn, who had served for 31.

“I have been proud of what we have achieved, from providing equipment to helping save the hospital from closure threats – but we could not have done it without the support of the public.”

Mr Blackburn said that over his 31 years the Friends had spent £714,328 on equipment for patients and staff as well as the new Dewing Suite training centre, but remarkably had never had to seek fund raising. It had all come from public donations, legacies and money in lieu of flowers at funerals.

At the annual meeting on Friday (September 15th) which approved the new officers, Friends member Margaret Johnson praised the expertise, tenacity and commitment of the two Brians – who she called the “dynamic duo”.

People can support the friends by making donations and through legacies. Contact Mr Jarvis on 07788 889853.

War Memorial Hospital Group Saved
War Memorial Hospital Group Saved
War Memorial Group - North Norfolk News
War Memorial Group – North Norfolk News
Memorial Hospital Group - Town and Country News
Memorial Hospital Group – Town and Country News

Filed Under: Committee

Hospital friends in need of new blood

17th August 2017 by Wayne Beauchamp

New Committee Members

A Friends group supporting a North Norfolk community hospital has put out a rallying call for new key officials to carry on its vital work.

Since it launched in 1949, the North Walsham War Memorial Hospital League of Friends has provided buildings, medical equipment, improvements and extras worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It also played a key campaigning role in saving the unit during a community hospitals shake-up nearly a decade ago.

But its chairman for the past 36 years, Brian Elliott, fears its proud record could come to an end unless new members come forward to take on leading roles.

“Without the Friends, there might not be a hospital, and we have provided a lot of facilities that would not have otherwise have been funded. But the committee is getting old and we need younger people to take over otherwise we will have to fold.”

The Friends are keen to recruit a new chairman, treasurer and secretary ahead of an extraordinary general meeting being called for August 25 to discuss the crisis.

Mr Elliott, 82, aims to step down this year along with secretary and treasurer Brian Blackburn, 78, who has served for 31 years.

During the past 10 years the Friends have given more than £370,000, buying everything from a suite of training rooms – thanks to a big legacy gift from Charles Dewing – to televisions, specialist mattresses and a wild flower meadow.

The revamped hospital now has 24 beds for post-operative, geriatrics and palliative patients, along with physiotherapy and social services.

Hospital chiefs have praised the work of the friends, with Gary Wiltshire, fundraising manager for the Norfolk Community Health and Care Charitable Fund, saying: “It would be hard to over-estimate the benefits that the Friends have brought to the hospital and its patients, families and the wider community over the years.

“Not only is there the donations that have provided many important improvements in care and facilities, but the Friends provide a vital and supportive personal link between the hospital’s staff and the local community.”

To help the friends contact Mr Elliott on 01692 405105 or email bridaph428@outlook.com

  • That’s what Friends are for
  • Some of items the Friends have bought in recent years include:
  • 2009: Epidot scanner, armchairs, mattress covers
  • 2010: hoist, chairs
  • 2011: hoist slings, camera
  • 2012: TVs for new hospital, mattresses and crash mats
  • 2013: chairs, stools, exercise steps, restoration of war memorial, bike shed, garden furniture
  • 2014: gait analysis software, powered recliner chair, summer house repairs, bench for war memorial
  • 2015: manual recliner
  • 2016: Dewing Suite, wild flower meadow
  • 2017: Dewing Suite equipment
  • They also fund Christmas decorations and goodies for patients every year

Filed Under: Committee

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Chairman

Keith Jarvis
15 Primrose Close
Trunch NR28 0QH

Tel: 07788 889853

Secretary

Angela Batson
30 Beechlands Park
Southrepps NR11 8NT

Tel: 07775 557381

Treasurer

Carol Willgress
28 Beechlands Park
Southrepps NR11 8NT

Tel: 01263 833733

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© 2021 · Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital, Yarmouth Road, North Walsham, Norfolk NR28 9AP. Tel: 01692 408000
Registered charity number 298857
Website by North Walsham Guide