THE League of Friends of Launceston Hospital is still going strong in the face of rumours of hospital closure, and members are looking forward to the year ahead — in the hope they can yet again fundraise thousands of pounds for the benefit of patients.

The Post recently reported Cornwall Council leader Adam Paynter and NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group’s (Kernow CCG) chief officer, Jackie Pendleton, both strongly denied claims that the majority of minor injury units across Cornwall could close in the near future.

Both chairman of the League of Friends of Launceston Hospital, Pam Parnell, and secretary Enis Broad, explained how the League has given thousands of pounds of equipment to not just the hospital, but town medical centre as well — £22,597.06 of items were purchased or agreed in 2017, with nearly £10,000 spent since November, plus other expenses for hospital patient newspapers, food and gifts. At Christmas, 19 presents were given by the League to patients at the hospital.

Pam said: “Personally, I think the cottage hospitals are safe. Nobody ever really knows, but we have been told it’s all alright. We will continue to keep it open.”

Launceston Hospital has just had a significant upgrade thanks to a £440,000 package of work invested by NHS Property Services, which has seen work to the roof, windows and flooring, resurfacing of sections of the car park, demolition of some outbuildings and external works.

A second treatment room at the minor injury unit was recently completed thanks to a big fundraising drive by the League to raise more than £18,000. Enis said this was one of her highlights of last year: “Seeing the minor injury unit completed has definitely been a highlight and seeing work on the hospital has taken place.”

Pam added: “The whole hospital is looking nice now. The minor injury staff have really thanked us. To be able to spend the money and upgrade everything gives us pleasure and is what the League is for.

“All of it is to benefit patients. Okay, it might help the nurses but it’s to the benefit of the patients.”

Enis added: “Somebody somewhere, if they haven’t used the hospital, a connection of theirs has.”

And they are quick to react to patients’ needs. Last summer, the League bought Dyson fans from a local company to help those suffering from the hot weather. It had to be Dyson fans, as traditional fans aren’t allowed in the hospital, for hygiene reasons.

Pam said: “We went out there on the Monday night, the patients were so hot. We got [the fans] delivered Wednesday morning. It was lovely to be asked for something and within a day we get it out there. They were really appreciative of that.”

Enis said: “We are still fundraising for more things that are required.” They are grateful to all those who have held fundraising events on behalf of the League and would welcome the support of anybody else who would like to hold an event.

Pam said: “We do need to thank everybody in the community. Without them we couldn’t do it. And the staff out the hospital and the medical centre.”

Some of what the League has been able to provide includes scales for the district nurses, a ward storage cupboard and couch for the hospital, and for the physiotherapy department, chairs, a skeleton, and the League has agreed to purchase an exercise bike. Last month, the League agreed to buy a spirometry, which tests to diagnose and help monitor lung conditions, for the medical centre, and the practice was thrilled when the League bought two check-in machines for patients. Andrew Yardley, the new practice manager at the medical centre, contacted Pam to thank her for the donation.

Mr Yardley said: “The two new check-in machines donated by the Launceston LOF have now been set up and installed for a number of months, we are very pleased with the way they are working. Patient feedback has been good and the additional machine helps relieve queues, which is especially helpful first thing in the morning!

“Shortly we will enable some additional features that will allow patients to securely verify contact information during check-in if they wish, which will help us keep our records up to date.

“On behalf of the practice we would like to thank you for funding these machines and the continued support you provide.”

The League has just bought special stickers to add to the new equipment it donates — and if you took away all that it has given to the hospital, patients would be on the floor!

With hopes that the long-awaited expansion of Launceston Medical Centre will soon be given the green light, the League expects it could be busier than ever.

Anybody wanting to help fundraise for the League can contact Pam Parnell on 01566 772340, email or send a message to the League of Friends of Launceston Hospital & Community Facebook page.