The League of Friends of St Monica’s Hospital was founded in 1969 to support and promote the work of the Hospital. The main aim then was to provide a Physiotherapy Unit, by converting the old washhouse, gardener’s store room and garage into a Physiotherapy Department. This 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 05 November 2018. View a copy of the Constitution Document (PDF 303 KB). The Charity is constituted as an unincorporated organisation governed by the Trustees.
To mark the centenary, in June 1993, of the Hospital’s foundation, the Friends with the support of the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation 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.
During 2011, one of the single bedrooms in the hospital was designated as a Palliative Care Suite. The refurbishment of this bedroom was funded by donations collected by the Friends.
Recent additions and improvements to the Hospital funded by FoSMH
- Provision of modern trolleys, hoists, electric beds and physiotherapy equipment
- Provision of flat screen TVs, bedside lockers and wheelchairs for patients
- Computers and microwaves for staff use
- Maintenance of Hospital grounds
- Daily newspapers, flowers for reception and toiletry packs for patients who arrive unprepared for a stay.