What we do
Administration
Achievements
History
What we do
We focus our resources, and any influence we may have, in a way that enhances and protects services, principally through refurbishment, provision of state-of-the art equipment which would not otherwise be provided by the NHS, and community projects. We also defend services under threat, and work closely with the relevant NHS trusts, statutory bodies and other organisations. Since 2000 alone, we have provided £3.5 million to enhance the hospitals and health provision, and to make Stroud Hospitals that little bit special.
In addition to the hospitals, we support Weavers Croft, Redwood House, Beeches Green Health Centre and the Ambulance Service.
We are made up of volunteer Trustees and are a membership organisation – free to everyone – and we encourage you to join. There is also a large and active team of volunteers that provide services within the hospital, and raise funds.
Our achievements have only been possible by the continued support from the people of Stroud and surrounding district who contribute generously, enabling us to allocate funds in this beneficial way. Our thanks also go to the staff of the hospitals and health care centres who work collaboratively alongside us to improve the facilities and services.
Administration and trustees
As a Trust, the League of Friends is administered by an executive committee of voluntary trustees, and by a part-time administrator. There is also a general committee of members and representatives of other organisations from the Stroud area.
The trustees are:
Dr Roma Walker
Will Abbott (Treasurer)
Sue Herschel (Secretary)
Tony Crook (Governance)
Nick Hurst (Estates)
Margaret Greaves (Chair)
Dr Susie Weir (Clinical Liason)
Miriam Street
Emily Booth
Barry Chapman
Administrator:
Julia Prosser (Administrator)
Our history
Stroud General Hospital originates from a dispensary founded in 1750, followed by an infirmary in George Street, moving to a General Hospital in Bedford Street in 1835, with the current Victorian Hospital opening in 1875. Long before the formation of the NHS and League of Friends in 1948, there had been a tradition of community support, with health services being maintained by gifts from mill owners and other Stroud residents.
Summary of achievements since 2000
- Refurbishing the Operating Theatre and state-of-the-art equipment for surgery, including an LED headlight system
- Portable Ultrasound scanner for the Maternity Hospital, Ultrasound scanner probe for the Breast Care Service, and the latest Ultrasound equipment for patients with liver, gall bladder, kidney and gynaecological conditions
- Major investment for Endoscopy Unit, resulting in JAG Accreditation
- Significant funds to update birthing room to very high standards at Maternity, and funding a day room there, plus Skytiles (and for Endoscopy) and jaundice monitors
- Establishing a Complex Leg Wound service (for leg ulcers) in 2016
- Providing an overnight stay room for relatives of terminally ill patients
- Refurbishing the Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIIU) with various equipment including three portering chairs and a plaster cutting saw
- Providing a Dementia Memory Room at Stroud Hospital
- Funding free respite care at Horsfall House, Minchinhampton
- Parallel bars and couches for physiotherapy, and equipment for Beeches Green Dental Service
- OCT machine to photo the back of the eye and pachymeter and tonometer for use in the outpatient eye clinics
- INR Star machine to test patients’ blood for coagulation
- Specialist ‘anti-fall’ beds, pressure relieving cushions, surgery trolleys, and riser chairs for patient assessment
- Training ‘dummy’ for nursing procedures
- Pre- and post-natal singing and yoga projects at the Maternity Hospital
- Gardening and Men’s Shed Projects at Weavers’ Croft
- Support for a specially adapted patient transport vehicle
Climate Change
It is the responsibility of all organisations to make adaptations as far as they are able to play their part in mitigating the effects of climate change. Following the recommendations of the UN Inter-governmental Panel of Climate Change in 2018, we have withdrawn our investments from carbon-based industries and have increased our holdings in renewables. We also scrutinise projects and requests for funding more closely in regard to this and in relation to single use plastic.