Torbay Hospital League of Friends

Torbay Hospital League of Friends ends the year on a

MAGIC CARPET

Celebrating over Seven Decades of Transformative Contributions to Patient Care and Hospital Facilities

Since the league began in 1954, over £22m has been raised for the hospital and the giving just goes on. This year alone has seen the League donate the sum of £662,039 with the following amounts in the pipeline:

Funding pledged but not yet paid over:

• £716,934.00 for new state of the artMonitors through the Hospital
• £51,850 for Equipment for te new Emergency Department
• £167,450 to transform Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorarative Dentistry and Orthodontic services
• £184,480 for a variety of other pieces of equipment needed by Deparments in the Hospital

And now 2025 has ended with the donation from the League of £7,442 to the Childrens Emergency Ward for a magic carpet - just in time for Christmas.

Waiting in the Childrens Emergency Department can be overwhelming, particularly if you are a child, or parent. The Emergency Departmentteam has worked hard during the past three years to make the area as calm and comfortable as possible to make sure everyone has a pleasent experience while they wait.

The Emergency Department team with our new interactive magic carpet, sensory projection system

And now children who arrive at the Emergency Department will be able to relax, play, and feel more at ease while they wait, thanks to the generosity of Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

The new interactive magic carpet, sensory projectionsystem in the Children's waiting area

Lisa Houlihan, Associate Director of Nursing and Professional Practice said-: "We're grateful to the League of Friends for paying for the magic carpet - an interactive, sensory projection system which projects engaging games, music, and activities onto the floor to help children, young people and their families to relax, play, and feel more at ease in what can be an unfamiliar and stressful envirinment sometimes"

This is just one of a very long line of gifts provided by Torbay Hospital League of Friends and proudly marks over 70 years of exceptional voluntary service and fund raising, reflecting a longstanding tradition of community support that began before the inception of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948.

Honouring a Legacy of Giving

From its earliest days, Torbay Hospital thrived on the goodwill of local residents, who contributed both financially and with their time. Before the NHS, the hospital operated as a voluntary institution, funded by weekly stamp schemes and special community initiatives such as Hospital Sunday

With the NHS's arrival in 1948much of this voluntary support waned. However, a new era of giving was ushered in when , in early 1954, a group of resolute locals recognised the ongoing need for voluntary assistance. Their efforts culmiated in a public on 4th March 1954, chaired by the Mayor of Torquay, which led to the founding of the Torbay Hospital League of Friends.

Some of our Trustees

Remarkable Achievements and Transformative Projects

The League began modestly, raising £248 in its first year and providing small comforts such as fruit bowls for patients. As membership and donations grew, so did the scope of their contributions. Over the decades, the League has funded a vast array of medical equipment and patient facilities, with investments now regularly reaching seven figures. Notable projects include:

• Funding and equipping one of the country's first Intensive Care Units in 1967 and co-funding an upgraded unit in 1984.
• Raising funds for state-of-the-art Cobalt Unit in the Radiotherapy Department opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1977.
• Purchasing advanced medical technology, inluding a £500,000CT Scanner and a £1,000,000 MRI Scanner.
• Upgrading children's wards and oncology facilities, as well as providing laser equipment for keyhole surgery.
• Matching public donations for the Chest Pain Unit Appeal, resulting in a half a million- pound investment.
• Contributing £1.5m towards the Horizon Centre forbresearch and education, and £1.6m for a new ICU in 2017.
• Donating £1.3m in 2019 to re-equip the Endoscopy unit with 34 high-definition endoscopes.
• Donating £82,000 for Image Guidance System for use by the ENT Teams

Beyond Fundraising: Volunteering and Community Spirit

The League's contribution extends far beyond fundraising. Its Linen League, a tradition dating back to pre-NHS days, continues to provide bespoke items for wards and departments - fulfilling needs unmet by standard suppliers.

Volunteers also organise regular Tabletop Sales and Community events, fostering a spirit of togetherness and support.

Their commitment is further underscored by an impressive efficiency: on averge, 95p of every £1 donated is spent directly on hospital needs.

A Royal Honour

In recognition of their extraordinary service, the League was awarded the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Services during the late Queen's Diamond Anniversary year - an honour regarded as the MBE for voluntary groups. This accolade is a testament to the dedication and compassion of countless volunteers who have enriched patient care care across Torbay Hospital and its associated facilities.

After 70 plus years, the Leagues pledges to continueworking hand-in-hand with the Health Authority to ensure that first-clas care and innovative facilities remain available to all.

Hopefully, you are thinking how can i help. That is easy, you can be a member, you will get 2 newsletters per year knowingthatyou are making a difference to your hospital.

You can become a member for as little as £10 a year, just send a message to [email protected] and we will send you the application form. 

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LEAGUE OF FRIENDS IN THE UK