Friends continue good work at Sevenoaks Hospital for more than 100 years

Sevenoaks Hospital has been an important feature of the town for well over a century. After our 2024 Annual General Meeting  it is interesting to also reflect on historical reports from earlier days. Then subscribers provided basic supplies plus extras for patient comfort such as books and magazines and today we continue to supply daily newspapers for the ward which are very popular.

Second-hand books are on sale at a very reasonable price in our ever-popular tea room. All beds on the ward and waiting room areas in both the main and day hospital have been provided with televisions by the Friends which are free to use.

In 1904, as always Hospital funds were stretched. But the annual report explains patients remained paramount: “It is a satisfaction to the committee that the Friends have not failed them”, it explains. Annual subscriptions and donations were generously boosted by a Pastoral Play in Knole Park and “this novel and interesting entertainment greatly delighted a large number of spectators”. The numbers of patients treated had increased as had the complexity of cases.         

Patient numbers had continued to rise 10 years later but the committee noted a falling off of subscriptions and donations “which can fairly be attributed to the War”. However good housekeeping prevailed: “It is only owing to the very great care and economy exercised.… the very high standard of comfort has been maintained”. Funds were boosted by entertainments, church collections and parades and a Pound Day resulting in “900 lbs weight of necessaries....a very welcome addition to the hospital stores”. 

The committee recorded “great appreciation” of the work of the matron and nurses “who have carried out their work with entire satisfaction”. Many discharged patients kindly gave fruit, flowers and new laid eggs. 

* See the picture above from 70 years ago and note the old fashioned vehicles in spartan numbers. Also how much the garden has come on of late to become a peaceful oasis for patients and visitors!

We also recommend you read our interesting historical piece about what was happening in the hospital 90 years ago in 1913. Very different times but some of the same messages!

Our new newsletter comes 90 years after the Report of the Holmesdale Cottage Hospital, Sevenoaks for the year ended September 30, 1913.

The 40^th annual report the year before the First World War saw Homesdale Cottage Hospital in “good order showing “an increase of receipts”. As it explained: “The low cost of maintenance in no way affected the comfort and well-being… and is due to every economy having being exercised in administration.”

There was also a “surprise visit” made by “that well know authority on Hospitals Sir Henry Burdett*. Sir Henry discovered an upbeat spirit among workers. He said: “I am glad to find the Hospital so well kept and in such good order… I congratulate the Committee and all concerned upon the evident efficiency maintained throughout....”

The medical report showed the workload becoming heavier. A total of 202 patients were admitted, an increase of 27 over the preceding year. But the number of operations was “considerably greater”. These included 36 major, 23 intermediate and 72 minor.

This in itself brought challenges! “The increase has seriously strained the accommodation available, as also the resources of the staff and further emphasised the urgent need for a larger Hospital. It is earnestly hoped that all subscribers will use their best endeavours to obtain further support for its growing wants, the more so with a view to the future, when the proposed new and commodious building is completed”.

Mrs Alliott provided £600 for the endowment of a bed in the men’s ward in memory of her late husband Dr Alliott. The family of the late Mrs A D Hopper, “for many years a generous supporter of the Hospital” gave £100 in memory of their mother.  

Fundraising included Mrs Scott’s Dramatic Performance £47, Postal Fete Collection and Concert £40 and Sevenoaks Town Band £38 18s 7d. Other efforts included church collections, church parades and slate clubs, “all most welcome additions”. “The Committee greatly appreciate the time and trouble taken by those who were responsible to make for the entertainments a success and so fruitful a source of revenue to the Hospital”.

A Pound Day organised by Mrs Ross and her co-workers “met with a liberal response from some of the other Tradesman and other Residents, resulting in about 1,100 lbs weight of stores.

"Consulting Surgeons, the Medical Staff and the Dental Surgeon" were thanked for the “skill and attention voluntarily given to patients”. Committee members were thanked as well as the Matron and Nurses. Their work had been done with “every satisfaction to the Committee, who much appreciate the devotion of their work.”

Gratitude was expressd for those who had “Provided Convalescent Letters and Surgical Aid letters for patients; the Subscribers generally and to the many kind friends who have sent gifts of wine, fruit, game, clothing, books newspapers etc. etc. “

It concluded: "Many discharged patients have been most kind in giving fruit, flowers and new laid eggs”.

 *    A financier and philanthropist with a special interest in hospitals

Annual General meeting in bygone times

Our Annual General for 2022 meeting on June 7 reflected on the past year to 30 September 2021. The hospital year has been fixed historically and we are lucky enough to have some reports of the event 120 years ago!

For 1901 Homesdale Cottage Hospital for Sevenoaks and the Neighbourhood enjoyed a year of “steady work and increasing usefulness”. The President was Earl Stanhope and the committee comprised nine vice presidents, five trustees and an impressive 32-ordinary members.

It was the 28^th year of the cottage hospital, one of “steady work and increasing usefulness”. The report praises the work undertaken including“ prompt medical and surgical aid” plus “life-saving careful and skilful nursing”.

There is a very long list of donations and subscriptions mainly in guineas although several very generous gifts of £5 – each perhaps worth £650 in today’s money – were received. Presents of game, books, papers magazines, eggs, clothing, fruit, jam, vegetables, a Christmas cake and even a bag of potatoes were made.

Look out again for more historical pieces on the website which will be added soon.