Hospital's getting by with a little help from its friends

When concerns were raised about a ward closure at The Richardson Hospital in Barnard Castle, the reply from residents was loud and clear – it’s a cherished community asset. Editor Trevor Brookes finds out more

FOR anyone who has been through the agony of witnessing a loved one’s last days, The Richardson, in Barnard Castle ,is a godsend.
The care and compassion shown by staff at The Richardson is second to none. That’s a given. But in this age of centralisation of services and trips to far-off wards in distant towns, the real bonus is having a hospital in the centre of the community.
“The main thing is that people can be cared for closer to home,” explains Iris Hillery, honorary secretary and publicity officer for The Friends of Richardson Hospital.
“We have a number of palliative care beds here and if someone is not going to recover, the family can stay with them or spend time with them.
“That’s difficult in Darlington hospital. It’s so much nicer for people to be cared for here in their community when they are coming to the end of their life. It makes it so much easier for people to visit them.
“I know from my own experience that you can pop in for ten minutes here and there – you can’t do if your family member is miles away. Staff are local too, so they know people. That makes a difference.”
The community’s fondness for The Richardson is clear to see and demonstrated by the hundreds of people who turned up to public meetings about the temporary closure of the Lowson Ward in March 2016. But nowhere is the support for the hospital shown greater than the work done by The Friends of Richardson Hospital.
Since the new hospital was built in 2007, the friends have continued to support staff, patients and visitors by buying new equipment not available from the NHS.
Improvements have also been made to day facilities and hospice resources, and support has been given to district nurses by buying equipment such as ultrasound equipment to monitor vascular health worth £1,295. Wheelchairs have been loaned to Teesdale Disability Action Forum, as well as some equipment to Barnard Castle Surgery.
The friends also contributed significantly towards putting defibrillators in the community, including one at St Mary’s Parish Hall and another at the GP surgery.
The Friends of Richardson Hospital have recently funded a £2,878 refurbishment of two single rooms for palliative care patients, thanks to a legacy. Included are all the latest mod cons including big screen TVs, hoists, and two air purifiers worth £1,600. There are also free-to-use phones and a pullout bed has been provided by another charity – ideal for family members who want to be near loved ones.
Falls sensor equipment has also been bought for the hospital by the friends to alert staff to anyone getting out of bed unsupervised. The equipment is worth about £1,500.
As well as caring for terminally ill people, seven of the 24 beds on Starling Ward are now being used for intermediate care – mostly to cater for people who are well enough to leave bigger hospitals but still too poorly to go home. There are also GP beds used by doctors as somewhere for people to go for assessment, rehabilitation or therapy.
The Starling Ward is one of two at Richardson. The original plan was to reopen the other, The Lowson, which was controversially closed in 2015, but Iris says there is not the demand at present.
“There are 21 people on Starling today, so it’s not like the hospital can’t cope with the demand. Lots of people go straight home from acute care at place like Darlington hospital,” said Iris, who has been involved in the friends group for two decades and was chairwoman for 11 years.
“We want The Richardson to be here for those patients for whom it is the right place. Those people who can’t go back home.”
The Friends of Richardson Hospital has a core membership of about ten. They are seeking new members for the fundraising and management committee because both chairman and treasurer will be retiring in April.
Anne Jones, currently vice chairman, will be standing for election as chairman and her position would need to be filled. The role of honorary treasurer in particular is an essential post and requires someone with a financial background and IT skills, says Iris.
The friends committee meets three to four times a year to consider requests from the hospital and the community, including clinics based at the hospital such as physiotherapy and podiatry. Officers of the charity also meet to review policies and discuss fundraising and events in the hospital such as the carol service and Christmas Day visit from Santa.
Most of the group’s income comes from legacies and donations in appreciation of care received but they also organise two or three fundraisers a year, helped by staff from the hospital. The recent Christmas hamper raffle raised £620. Money is also collected from the sale of Christmas cards, postcards and prints. 
New in 2017 is the chance for volunteers from other charities to undertake emergency aid training – a one-day course leading to a level one qualification in first aid.
The first session will take place at the Parish Hall, in Barnard Castle, on Saturday, January 14, from 9.30am to 5pm. Coffee and tea will be provided but people taking part should bring a packed lunch. Application forms can be obtained by emailing info@forh.org.uk.
The next meeting of the friends committee will be held at The Richardson Hospital on Wednesday, January 18, at 7pm. Anyone interested in the work of the friends is welcome to go.
“We’d just like more people to get involved and have a say about what we do,” said Iris.
For more information, contact, Iris Hillery on iris@ajalon.co.uk or 07919 344845.