The League of Friends continued to support the Hospital’s patients and staff. In spite of the disappointing weather, the gardens looked lovely, thanks to the work of Paul and his team at GWS: the colourful tubs to brighten up the winter and spring, the summer bedding plants, and late summer planting to carry into the autumn.
In 2024, the League purchased new tables and chairs for the Hospital patio so the patients and their visitors were able to enjoy what little sunshine there was.
Inside the Hospital, the League provided new chairs for visitors to the Ward as well as a new riser/recliner chair for the dayroom. It also supported a plan to make the dayroom an even brighter and more stimulating place.
The League was also able to donate a new washer-drier for patients’ laundry – especially important for those patients who have no-one to help with this. The aquarium provided by the League in the Outpatients Department, so much appreciated by waiting patients, had reached the end of its life and was replaced.
Another major aim was to take forward the plan to refurbish the antiquated bathroom to create a fit-for-purpose shower room, but this continued to be frustrated by the inability of the Buckinghamshire Hospitals Trust to provide a project manager. Similarly our plan to provide an outdoor rest area for patients and staff at the top-end of the car par, as a tribute to all who have worked at the Hospital over the years, remained fraught with difficulties which we were unable to resolve. Contractors arrived and constructed the promised path, but without any consultation and ignoring the plans we had submitted. It led to nowhere.
At Christmas we organised the traditional carol singing on the Ward led by the Lenborough Singers, and there were the usual much appreciated gifts for both patients and staff.
At the Annual General Meeting, the League was sad to say goodbye to Mrs Sheila Dawe, who had been the most efficient and caring of secretaries. As yet, she has not been replaced.