Friends of Worthing Hospitals

Friends of Worthing Hospitals is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 208291).

The Friends exists to enhance the care experience in Worthing Hospitals through staffed and volunteer run services, facility improvements and the supply of equipment for patients, their relatives and hospital staff. It spent £178,484 on gifts to local hospitals. Its grants committee usually meets every month to consider bids from the local NHS trusts it supports, and it considers fixtures and fittings, furnishings, medical equipment, and items such as art equipment and educational materials that supplement the service provided by UHSFT.

Priority Areas

The Friends uses its funds to make grants that help patients, staff and hospital visitors in the Worthing area. It supports traditional patient-oriented items, including children’s toys, emergency patient packs, and gifts and food for wards at Christmas, as well as medical and rehabilitation equipment. Much of the equipment is provided in response to requests from wards and departments in the three supported trusts, and each request must be justified by the bidding ward or department. The League also aims to provide facilities and amenities and to support hospital appeals. Requests are considered primarily for the benefit of patients, staff and visitors, and the Friends normally concentrate on smaller awards intended to make a difference now.

Themes

• Medical equipment
• Rehabilitation equipment
• Patient-oriented items

Geographic Focus

Worthing area.

Contact the Friends Trustee responsible for the ward or department to discuss the requirement; if appropriate, the Trustee will guide the request through the process.

Deadlines: Submit request forms at least four weeks before a Request meeting.

Who can apply:

• UHST bid: For use by the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Departments, Ward’s, and Units of Worthing Hospital only
• Do you work in one of the Wards or Departments within The Worthing Hospitals area? (SCT, SPT or UHST)

What to send:

• UHST bid
  • A current supplier’s quotation and product literature must be attached.
  • Complete a Request Form and ensure that it is signed by your Director of Clinical Services.
  • Please attach a completed MDEMG approval form.
  • A brief outline of your case and aims with contact names.

What the charity says:

• Requests are considered primarily for the benefit of patients, staff and visitors.
• Each request must be carefully scrutinised and justified by the bidding department or ward.
• The Department or Division often considers whether a proposal aligns with a Trust priority to help with formal sign-off.