What we do

The League of Friends of Sevenoaks Hospital was formed in 1950 and is a charity which exists to support patients and staff of the hospital.

One of our key objectives is to ensure that whenever possible the people living locally can receive their healthcare as close to home as possible – especially important with our aging population.

With the changing emphasis to Care in the Community we do not restrict ourselves to the hospital alone and look to wider community support.

We have about 450 members led by an executive committee of 14 raising money to spend on the hospital and local healthcare.

The money is raised in a number of ways: -
•     fundraising events – fetes, stalls, concerts, flag days
•     subscriptions
•     in memoriam
•     legacies
•     donations

Where there is a major project we try and seek help from the whole community. The last was providing a new hydrotherapy pool where we raised £220,000 of the £330,000 cost.

Over the past 15 years or so we have spent in excess of £600,000 on equipment for the hospital and this includes: -
•     hydrotherapy pool            £220,000
•     two ultrasound machines   £110,000
•     day room                       £ 35,000
•     audiology booth               £ 33,000
•     electric doors                   £ 20,000
•     two bathrooms                £ 20,000
•     MIU software                  £ 17,000
•     ward curtains                    £ 8,000
•     phlebotomy equipment       £ 3,800

Sometimes it is so important to provide just “that little bit extra” and we have bought many chairs, tables, about 10 electronically operated beds, water cooling machines, examination couches and a variety of equipment for the consultants’ clinics. Additionally, we also replaced the flooring in MIU (Minor Injuries Unit) to improve hygiene standards; provided televisions, thermos jugs for patients and much more besides.

Volunteers are invaluable, jointly staffing the coffee bar with the Red Cross generating about £2,000 per year for funds as well as providing a service to patients and staff.

Chairman Roger Hope said: “Looking ahead we hope and expect to see Sevenoaks Hospital flourish and play a key role in the provision of health care in the community.

“Increasingly, however, health care provision will be dependent on the support of the voluntary sector because funds from government will not meet our expectations. Leagues of Friends will therefore continue to play an important role in raising money for their hospital.”