North Walsham Hospital Friends

Receptionist Shirley steps down after 39 years – but you might not have seen the last of her welcoming face

31st March 2020 by Richard Batson

The friendly face who greets patients and visitors at North Walsham Hospital has retired.

But receptionist Shirley Turner has bowed out quietly after the Coronavirus “lockdown” prevented her presentation lunch taking place.

Retiring North Walsham Hospital receptionist Shirley Turner.

Instead she said goodbye to colleagues on Friday and hopes to return once the pandemic is over for a belated farewell gathering.

She is also set to make occasional “comebacks” as a temporary “bank staff” member, particularly during the pandemic crisis.

Shirley started at the hospital 39 years ago back in April 1981, helping with ward admin for three hours on a Saturday morning. Previously, before having her two sons (now 46 and 43) she did office work at Jeckells sailmakers in Wroxham.

Her hospital role grew to cover health centres at Cromer, Sheringham and Fakenham as well as Northfield Road at North Walsham.

Shirley went full time 25 years ago, and switched to reception when the new hospital was opened in 2012. Her valuable, unstinting, behind-the-scenes work was recognised with an “unsung hero” award at an NHS Reach for the Stars event.

“Community hospitals like this are brilliant. Ours has changed a lot. When I started it had maternity and minor injury units. I have enjoyed supporting the various departments but loved meeting people and have got to know many of the regulars,” she said when the Friends caught up with her just before she left – to spend more time looking after her garden and six grandchildren.

Shirley is a big fan of the Friends, who have helped make people’s wait in reception more pleasant by buying a radio for background music.

The Friends sent her farewell flowers, and some gardening vouchers. Friends chairman Keith Jarvis said: “Shirley has been a wonderful welcoming figure when people first come through the hospital front door. She has also been a big supporter of the Friends, and helped steer people towards our donation box. We will miss her.”

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.

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 a plan to introduce 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.*

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.

Receptionist Shirley steps down after 39 years – but you might not have seen the last of her welcoming face

Friends bring fun and games to North Walsham Hospital

Carol singers bring festive cheer to hospital wards

Friends’ funds will help provide new relatives room

Friends’ work in spotlight at trust annual meeting

Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer