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The League of Friends of Romsey Hospital is a Registered Charity that provides and facilitates many extra services for the benefit of the hospital patients and for its outpatients in the local community.

It has a membership of over 450 individuals and is affiliated to Attend, the national association of the Leagues of Friends.

We work with the local Hampshire Community Health Care trust (HCHC) which is responsible for the hospital, and with the hospital management. We have two representatives on the Development Group which meets with the HCHC once every other month and two on an association called SOCH (Save Our Community Hospitals). The latter includes representatives from the New Forest hospitals and the three local MPs.

The Friends provide a very welcome tea and coffee round for patients every day of the year and books are taken round to patients who wish to read. League volunteers also help to plant and to look after the large, therapeutic garden which is accessible to beds and wheelchairs. Both in-patients and outpatients are welcome to visit it.

All money given goes to helping the hospital provide patient comforts and fund equipment and services that the NHS could not otherwise afford. In 2009 items purchased ranged from large and expensive ones such as a Humphrey Visual Fields Analyser for the eye clinic, to smaller items such as books for the physiotherapy team and garden furniture, and inexpensive items such as wobble boards, bean bags and weights for the Rehabilitation team.

We raise money through our Flag Day in April and our coffee morning in November. We also get funds from membership subscriptions and from many generous donations from the public, including those from other organisations or individuals that raise money on our behalf.

In April 2010 the League still require:

• Help in the hospital garden
• Tea trolley helpers

2005
 
 
The Romsey United Reform Church has donated £400 to the League. This gift has paid for a fountain outside the Mother and Baby unit. When the Reverend Terry Hinks blessed the fountain he said that the rest of the money will be used to buy seats for the garden there.