AGM 2023 spotlights benefits to patients
Our Annual General Meeting heard about invaluable work and achievements during the past year. Presentations were given by Chairman Ian Philip and representatives from Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust headed by Chief Executive Mairead McCormick.
Ian said the newly-refurbished tea room had proved really successful since re-opening after the pandemic including new facilities for card payments. A vending machine had also been installed in the waiting area of the Urgent Treatment Centre for the convenience of patients.
He said: “We are always looking for ways in which we can increase our offering to customers, so that we can satisfy their needs whilst making money for the charity. These profits go straight into our funds and are available for us to provide benefits to the hospital and its patients”.
The Friends had been delighted to be involved with creating a vintage emporium for patients and revamping the hospital garden. This included watering during drought conditions and more recently providing additional planters.... Garden
Mairhead said she had been impressed with visits to the new emporium and tea room. “It does lift your heart,” she said. She explained how the Trust was moving forward. This includes using the hospital much more plus increased day care leading to shorter stays in hospital.
The hospital was a “great asset to the community” but it was now important to build on community use. “ Covid taught us a lot about doing things differently, how to cover and modernise and use facilities beyond”, she said.
The event on June 22 was also attended by Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council Cllr Alan Layland and Town Mayor Claire Shea. Local MP Laura Trott also sent a message praising the hospital's work and promised her absolute support.
Plans unveiled at 2022 AGM bear fruit
Exciting future projects were unveiled at the League of Friends Annual General meeting by Victoria Cover Clinical Services Manager for Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
These include the now refurbished tearoom, vintage day room and wonderful garden for all patients and visitors to enjoy. The League of Friends has worked closely with specialist staff to help them fulfil the aim that the whole hospital should be dementia friendly.
Our tearoom – which had to close during the pandemic – has now been re-opened in a dementia-friendly way. It has been extensively refurbished and decorated. This includes new visual posters designed by experts on the doors, walls and windows. We have received many compliments!
As well as linking in with the hospital, these murals brighten up the café and clearly identify it as being run by the League of Friends. Staff and volunteers have also benefited from a visit from the dementia bus.
The meeting on June 7, 2022 learned about another major project involving creating a dementia-related sweet shop in the day room on Stanhope ward. This has taken the form of a vintage emporium. Although the decoration is dementia related, it can also be enjoyed by all hospital inpatients and their families. The initiative was paid for by a £3,600 Sevenoaks District Council grant with the Friends contributing another £3000. Our thanks go to all those who donated memorabilia privately.
Our other ongoing project is upgrading the garden in front of the main hospital building for the benefit of in-patients and their visitors. This has been very successful despite the drought last summer just after planting. It was watered by volunteers as often as twice daily for some weeks and is now thriving.
The meeting also heard that the Friends had still managed to carry out some activities despite the loss of income when the tearoom was closed and being unable to hold street collections. This had been greatly helped by donations although some expenses had to be met from reserves.
You can read the Chairman Ian Philip’s report by pressing the blue button below and press the link for a historical piece about the AGM 120 years ago.