The League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital
Since the creation of the Friends in 1957 the Friends have helped the hospital consistently and have aimed to make the hospital environment as pleasant as possible and to contribute towards purchasing state of the art equipment to better patient healthcare.
The fundraising activities of the Friends are as diverse as they are many. Retail plays a significant role in the fundraising activities of the hospital. Over the past few years the number of retail outlets run by the Friends has steadily increased. Now there are shops in three different locations, spread around the hospital, and a trolley that makes rounds of the wards. The shops sell a good variety of items from entertaining magazines to necessary toiletries.
The Friends also have two well attended annual events. The first is their Christmas Concert of Carols and Readings led by the Pangbourne Choral Society. It is attended by up to 450 people every year who attend to enjoy the concert as well as the wine and mince pies on offer. The second is the summer fete which attracts approximately 3000 people. Individuals from the local community book stalls and do their best to make the fete a success.
Money goes towards helping all wards, improving hospital care and making the hospital a more pleasant place for patients. From purchasing fish for the South Wing fish pond, to donating 40 new wheelchairs, from refurbishing the parent’s room on the children’s ward to funding the work of a palliative care sister for two years, the Friends aim to meet the aims of the patients. In 2010 the Friends received a donation of £50, 000. This money was used to fund a da Vinci Robot which will revolutionise prostate cancer operations at the hospital. The robot-assisted surgery means that a smaller incision needs to be made when operating meaning less pain, less risk of wound infection, reduced scarring and less blood loss, resulting in a faster recovery. The Friends are now working hard to raise the rest of the money needed to make the robot a permanent fixture at the hospital.
Created 11th April 2012. Updated 2021
The League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
