The Friends of St. Mary's Hospital are an official Charitable Body (Registered Charity Number 229151) with an elected Board of Trustees and a group of volunteers who work closely with the Island's NHS.  You can download a leaflet about the Friends here.

We run the Hospital Shop, two Coffee Shops (one in the Main Entrance of the hospital and the other in the Laidlaw Day Unit) and the daily Ward Trolleys.  Also, we have book sales, collecting boxes for loose change in the Hospital Foyer and collecting tins around the Island.

We support and supplement the excellent service already provided by St Mary’s and the Island's NHS by financing extra facilities which enhance the lives of patients, staff and visitors alike. In recent years, the Friends of St. Mary's has provided much-needed equipment which has contributed to patient well-being, both during their stay in hospital and also whilst being cared for in the community.

Since the Friends of St Mary’s Hospital, was founded, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been raised.    Approximately half a million pounds has been donated from the takings achieved by the volunteers since the year 2000.   We are also indebted to those who remember us in their Wills.

We have been proud to provide:

• A Conservatory for Laidlaw Day Unit;
• Awnings, a shed and garden furniture for the Rehabilitation Ward;
• A digital camera for Breast Cancer Care;
• Wheelchairs;
• Equipment for Colposcopy, X-Ray, Community Nursing and Physiotherapy departments;
• A rapid response vehicle for Paramedics;
• Plus many other items requested by Staff.

Donations have been made to Hospital appeals for an MRI Scanner & Monitor, the Chemotherapy UNit and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

A small but dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers staff the cafes and shops in the main hospital and also the Laidlaw Day Unit. These areas provide a friendly and valuable service to visitors, patients and staff five days a week. They have a well-deserved reputation for excellent coffee and providing a welcoming area in which to relax. In addition, trolleys serve the wards daily with newspapers, confectionery and a variety of items for the use of patients and staff.

It is quite possible that you or a member of your family or friends have already been admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in the past and would like to express your gratitude in a positive and practical way for the care and attention received.

Help us to ensure that in the future the latest equipment and facilities are available to assist the dedicated staff to provide the best care possible for patients.

We have a hospital of which we can be justly proud. How good it would be to be able to say “I helped”.

How could you help?

By fundraising among your community and friends. You can choose what your donation will buy from a Wish List, or you can become a Member of the Friends of St Mary’s Hospital. There is a form included with this leaflet.

Volunteers are the life-blood of the organisation. Can you offer your services in any way - no matter how small?

Should you feel able to assist in any of the above services, please give our Manager a call on 01983-534609. She will be delighted to hear from you and will be able to explain the various tasks that volunteers undertake in the course of their work for the Friends.

An hour or two of your time will prove invaluable to the success of our Hospital and the Island.