St Monica’s Hospital has a special place in the hearts of many people living in and around Easingwold.  It is a shining example of a Community Hospital working in unison with the local health authority to provide nursing and medical care for the acutely ill attended by their own general practitioner; for patients needing intermediate care between hospital and home; and most importantly comes into its own to help patients and their families through the last stages of life.  It is one of the most valuable assets in Easingwold and there will be few people whose lives or families have not been touched.

The Hospital was founded in 1893 by Mrs Katherine Love, a generous and local benefactor whose family lived on the Hawkhills Estate near Easingwold.  At first, it was known as the Easingwold Cottage Hospital but later it was renamed St Monica’s after the remarkable 4th century mother of the great St Augustus.

Taken over by the state in 1948, the Hospital is now designated a Community Hospital.  It is managed by North Yorkshire and York PCT and has 12 beds, all having views over the Hospital grounds.  The Hospital provides nursing and medical care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy support, and has a daily minor injuries department.

The League of Friends of St Monica’s Hospital was founded 1969 to support and promote the work of the Hospital.  The main aim then was to provide a Physiotherapy Unit which opened in 1969.  Since its foundation, the League of Friends has worked tirelessly to raise funds for various projects to meet nursing and medical needs.

The League of Friends of St Monica’s obtained charitable status in 1983 under the Governing Document dated 13 January 1983, and amended 2 May 1991.  A new Governing Document, being fully compliant with the new Charities Act and current regulations, was adopted on 11 June 2009.  A copy of this Document can be viewed on the Purpose page of this website.  The Charity is constituted as an unincorporated organisation governed by the Trustees with an annual membership subscription set at 50p.

To mark the centenary in June 1993 of the Hospital’s foundation, the Friends of St Monica’s, with the support of the York Health Services NHS Trust, launched the Centenary Appeal with the aim of raising £150,000 to provide an Occupational Therapy Unit, to upgrade the Day Room and other facilities.  Thanks to the overwhelming support of the people of Easingwold and district, the whole amount was raised and the Unit was opened by HRH the Duchess of Kent in October 1993.  In 1994, a Garden Room extension to the Day Room was built at a cost of £48,000.  The Millennium Project Extension was opened by local businessman Ron Moverley on 14 July 2000.  The Jean Farghar Resource Centre was opened by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester on 24 October 2005.  This was funded at a cost of £178,973 and has a meeting room, kitchen, toilet, store room and a small office.  It is fully utilised not only for the Trustees’ bi-monthly meetings but by the NHS, PCT and others in the community at a small fee.

Anyone in the community can hire the Resource Centre during office hours and should contact Sheila Burkill on 01347 821214 for further details.  Unfortunately for obvious reasons, the Resource Centre is not normally available during the evenings.  Please click here for a booking form and protocol sheet.