FOLLOWING the Friends donation of £1,000,000 to the Sussex Surgical Centre at Eastbourne DGH last month, The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital has had reports that the new unit is proving a complete success.
Operations and procedures are well underway, and the plans now are for the centre to move to a seven-day opening, from the five days a week it currently offers. This is a huge addition to Eastbourne’s healthcare services, meaning the provision of quicker, better care to patients, the reduction of waiting lists and the freeing up of capacity in the DGH’s main theatres. Once again, we thank all the Friends supporters who played their part in raising such a big donation for vital equipment in this centre.
Friends chairman, Dr Harry Walmsley, will be delivering further information on the completion of this year’s major project when he gives his report at the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital AGM on Thursday 27 November. All are welcome, and admission is free, with refreshments following the meeting. Dr Walmsley will also be outlining the next major project to be undertaken by the Friends in the coming year.
Please do come along to find out what our fundraising goal is this year, and how it will help the Eastbourne DGH. The venue is Victoria Baptist Church on Eldon Road in Eastbourne, BN21 1UE, and the meeting will begin at 2pm. For the agenda, please do visit our website: www.friendsdgh.org.uk/events
The Friends were also honoured to be invited to present awards at the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Awards recently, which saw a celebration of staff across the Trust, and recognition of all the hard work that has been done. The first award the Friends were asked to present was ‘Living the Trust Values’. This went to the Critical Care Oracle Newsletter Team, who have helped create a culture which reflects Trust values, and whose integrity shows in honest, constructive reporting.
The second award was for the Team Contribution to Support Outstanding Patient Care, which we proudly presented to the Community Speech and Language Therapy Team, who have outstanding dedication to improving care for people with Parkinson’s through the introduction of an evidence-based voice therapy programme. They have restored confidence, communication and quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.
Christmas is coming soon for the Friends, as we make the final preparations for our Christmas Fair and Coffee Morning to be held at Meads Hall, 77 Meads Road, on Saturday 15 November, from 10am to 12pm. Stalls will include gifts, cakes and marmalades, patchwork, jewellery, cards, books, and items from the Friends Shop. There will also be a raffle, and the kitchen will be open for tea or coffee. Entry is free, with donations welcome, so come and browse, buy, enjoy a hot drink or just stop for a catch-up.
A great start to your Christmas shopping! If you have any gifts or above items that you would like to donate for sale at the fair, please do get in touch with the office on 01323 749503 /esh-tr.friendsdgh@nhs.net
The final event of our fundraising year will be the Friends Quiz Night on Friday 5 December at the Fishermen’s Club on Royal Parade in Eastbourne, from 7pm. A fantastic way to start December, and the run up to Christmas, with some serious head-scratchers and lots of laughs. Entry is £5 per person, and teams can comprise up to 7 members for the win.
And in December, we will be announcing many of the fundraising events we have in store for 2026 – amongst them a Murder Mystery Evening, a Race Night, and regulars such as our quizzes and dinners. To make sure you keep up to date with all the events taking place, and all the fantastic work the Friends are doing, please do consider becoming a Member of the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital.
Just £30 for lifetime membership, this will see lifelong support of the DGH and the Friends, plus we will deliver a magazine to your door every three months. It could also be a meaningful gift for someone you are buying for this Christmas. Do find out more about membership by visiting www.friendsdgh.org.uk/membership/individual-membership, or contacting the Friends Office on 01323 749503 /esh-tr.friendsdgh@nhs.net
