The Sevenoaks Friends committee includes members of local organisations and interested people who are joined by representatives from the hospital and GPs, as well as of the adjoining neuro-rehabilitation unit, Darent House.

Committee members

President – Roger Hope

Chairman – Ian Philip

Treasurer – Chris Dent

Secretary – Chrissie Philip

Vice-Chairman - Rindi Bakker MB ChB

Members meet every two months to consider business arising such as what they can provide for the hospital and its patients such as the new scanner LINK, as well as fundraising.

An Annual General Meeting is held in the summer to which all Friends are warmly invited and have a chance to chat over refreshments after the formal business. The occasion was well attended this year on July 7, 2009, when an upbeat report on the hospital’s future was given.

Outgoing Chairman Roger Hope said that the PCT’s £750,000 refurbishment programme had reinforced the future of Sevenoaks Hospital.

The money has been spent on the dining room, kitchens, boilers and telephone system.

Once the new Pembury Hospital was opened the reduction of the number of acute beds would mean that Homesdale Ward was expected to be fully re-opened after refurbishment.

Members had been saddened by the death of John Lawrie-Hutchins during the year who had tirelessly organised collecting boxes with his wife Miriam.

See Chairman’s report to 2010 meeting – PDF-63Kb
Report to 2009 meeting - PDF 11Kb.
Report to 2008 meeting - PDF 11kb.

The League is a member of Attend www.attend.org.uk, the leading membership-based organisation supporting volunteering in health and social care.