ALMOST 75,000 cups of tea were sold by the League of Friends in order to donate £74,319 to Basildon University Hospital.
As the end of year accounts are revealed, staff at Basildon Hospital are extending a huge thank you to the volunteers who run the tea bars and helped raise such a fantastic amount.
Amongst other things, the donation paid for the refurbishment of the day room on Osler Ward (pictured above), as part of the Butterfly Appeal to enhance the care of patients living with dementia.
Steve McManus, managing director at the Trust, said: “It is very apt that during volunteer week, we get the chance to say thank you to the League of Friends for their hard work and kind donations, which enhance the care of patients and improve the hospital environment for everyone.”
The largest single payment was £17,560 for a spectric solaris injection system in the imaging department. While the smallest, was £118 for a refrigerator for the paediatric department.
The sum also includes a £5,000 donation made to St Luke’s Hospice in memory of the League’s long serving president, Ken Humphreys, who was a founder member of the Basildon Hospital League of Friends back in 1968.
Rita Keeler, League of Friends treasurer, said: “Ken sadly died last year after battling cancer and being cared for by St Luke’s Hospice. The committee felt that there are probably many patients who go into St Luke’s after being treated in the Trust and so it seemed fitting to give a donation.
“I am sure you would agree that this is a very substantial amount raised by a dedicated group of volunteers who regularly come in to the hospital to provide a service to both staff, patients and visitors and as by product raise a fantastic amount of money.”
ENDS
