Friends of North Walsham War Memorial Hospital

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New cabins mark updated Covid role for hospital

2nd November 2020 by Richard Batson

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital has become the main unit for Covid patients across Norfolk needing community nursing care.

The 24-bed unit is dealing with people who are being discharged from the county’s three acute hospitals, but who are in need of extra recovery before returning home.

A suite of three portable buildings has been added to the site to provide the staff with changing, shower and locker facilities and means the ward can run separately from the rest of the hospital, which is still dealing with outpatients needing services such as physiotherapy.

North Walsham War Memorial Hospital Covid cabins
The new portable cabins adding Covid safety at North Walsham War Memorial Hospital

The Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, has chosen North Walsham as the main ward to receive coronavirus patients.

It is partly because staff managed Covid patients well during the first wave, said clinical quality director (north) Del Mitchell.

Previously there was a mix of Covid and non-Covid patients. Having Covid-only helped reduce cross contamination, and made things easier for staff.

The North Walsham ward is receiving patients from the Norfolk and Norwich, James Paget at Great Yarmouth and Queen Elizabeth at King’s Lynn.

A Day Room, which was converted for overspill beds, has been returned to its original purpose.  One additional Health Care Assistant has been taken on for each 12-hour shift.

Non Covid patients who would normally go to North Walsham will be sent to other units such as Pine Heath ward at Kelling Hospital.

The Trust’s director of nursing and quality, Carolyn Fowler said the change of status at North Walsham would be “reviewed on a regular basis, but is likely to remain necessary during the winter months, or however long is deemed necessary to support the COVID pandemic locally.

 “I would like to reassure you that rigorous infection prevention and control policies are in place to ensure patient and staff safety.”

Mrs Fowler thanked the Friends for our “care and support to our patients and staff.”

Filed Under: Fundraising Tagged With: Covid-19, North Walsham Hospital Friends

Blooms give a boost to staff at North Walsham Hospital

8th May 2020 by Richard Batson

A forest of flowers has been delivered to staff at North Walsham’s hospital as a “thank you” for their work during the coronavirus crisis.

Floral gifts for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital from Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop, Wroxham
Floral gifts for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital from Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop, Wroxham

Fifty bouquets were delivered to the town’s War Memorial Hospital by local haulage firm Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop at Wroxham, who doubled the size of the original £500 order as their contribution.

It was the idea of Charlotte and Ben Daniels, whose mum Binni Thurtle and aunt Carrie Moore are both health care assistants at the unit, which is treating Covid and non-Covid patients.

Charlotte explained: “We have seen the Norfolk and Norwich getting lots of gifts and felt our local hospital needed some recognition too – because staff there are dealing with coronavirus patients,  and we know they are finding it tough at times. So we thought it would be nice to send the nursing, cleaning and kitchen staff working on the wards some flowers to let them know people value their work.”

Her brother, and father John Daniels, delivered the surprise floral gifts to the hospital helped by Andrew Rushmer and Ray Martin from the Florist Shop which is run by Rachel Pegg.

Floral gifts for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital from Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop, Wroxham
Floral gifts for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital from Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop, Wroxham

Ward sister Kerry Howarth said: “The staff are thrilled with the flowers. They are working so hard in full Personal Protective Equipment, and know people are thinking of them, but this gift is a real boost.”

Floral gifts for North Walsham War Memorial Hospital from Daniels Transport and The Florist Shop, Wroxham
Ward sister Kerry Howarth with the floral gifts.

The hospital’s Friends group is spending hundreds of pounds of donated cash to provide weekly goody parcels of food, drink, snacks and treats to support the staff.

Friends chairman Keith Jarvis added: “Our town hospital is really valued by the community in normal times – but during this crisis the amount of support being shown from businesses and families really proves how much the staff’s hard work and care in difficult times is appreciated.”

Goody boxes have also come from the Happisburgh Road stores, and hot meals donated by the Labone Indian restaurant. Several people have rallied round, getting out their sewing machines to make uniform laundry bags and headbands to stop masks behind staff’s ears.

The hospital’s mothership, the Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust, has also provided staff with wellbeing packs including snacks, ready meals, drinks and hand cream. It is also plans to provide fresh fruit, tissues, and creams and to protect the longer term wellbeing of staff.

The trust has confirmed that the 24-bed hospital has been expanded to help cope with increased demand during the Covid crisis by converting a day room, normally used for patients and visitors to relax in, into a four-bed temporary ward.

Filed Under: Fundraising Tagged With: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Daniels Transport, North Walsham Hospital Friends, Nursing

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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
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