Whitstable Hospital & Healthcare
Community Friends Project
The Community Friends provide a wide range of assistance, care and fundraising services to primary healthcare in the Whitstable area. Originally formed in 1954, they expanded in 1991 from just being the Friends of the Hospital to the Friends of the healthcare as well. They support the Whitstable Hospital, Whitstable Health Centre, Chestfield Medical Centre, Saddleton Road Surgery and the community. The organisation has approximately 150 volunteers.
For people who are housebound, visits by Friends can make a real difference; it may be the only visitor they have. The Community Friends Project provides a visiting and befriending service for hospital patients and those being cared for at home, as well as for their relatives and carers. The Friends help with reading, writing letters and personal shopping. Besides providing companionship, the service allows carers to take a break for an hour or so. Visits take place on a weekly or fortnightly basis. There are monthly informal training and support meetings for volunteers to collaborate and discuss new ideas, or evaluate obstacles they have encountered.
Since its start in 1996, this program has expanded greatly, and the group has undertaken a variety of other activities. They now organize outings to the theatre and hold tea parties, music sessions, and pub lunches. Community Friends also has an additional service for patients just discharged from the hospital. Instead of returning to an empty house alone, a volunteer will go with them, help them to settle in, unpack, check the fridge contents and prepare a light snack and drink.
The Friends help clients to regain confidence (perhaps after an operation, or following a stroke or other illness) and alleviate loneliness. The clients and the Friends alike enjoy these visits, which is the main purpose.
There are ever-increasing demands on the NHS and Friends groups throughout the country because of the constant need for new equipment in the hospitals. The need for more volunteers and support is always a concern of the group. The Friends have responded by providing a wide range of support, care and fundraising services to patients, ex-patients, their families and carers.
The Friends were acknowledged, not just once but three times, in the Sapphire Awards in recognition of outstanding voluntary achievement in the field of health and social care. Honours were won in 1996, 1998 and 2000.
The Friends will continue to develop useful projects such as the Community Friends. New volunteers will be screened, trained and monitored to allow for the expansion of projects and services.
Quotes
“The League of Friends is much more holistic than just fundraising—they provide community services as well, and give us the opportunity to develop far more.” — Dr. John Ribchester
“They allow us to have those extras that the NHS just won't run to.” — Dr. Hillary Pinnock, Whitstable Health Centre
“The Friends actually really do help the whole community. If you're giving to another charity, you can't be sure where your donations are going, but with the Friends you can really see the results.” — Carolyn Nelson
Contact details
Mrs Collett
01227 594636
WhitstableMedicalPractice.co.uk