Friends of Bridlington Hospital Charity to Close After 73 Years of Support

The Friends of Bridlington Hospital, a charity that has supported the hospital since 1953, is set to close.

Trustees say the decision is a result of the charity's inability to function due to a decline in membership and volunteers following Covid, as well as members leaving the area. This resulted in difficulties in finding sufficient numbers of individuals willing to serve on the Committee, which was a requirement under the terms of its Constitution. As a result, the Trustees concluded that there was no alternative but to disband.

The Trustees say this was a "regrettable decision that was not taken lightly".

Carol French, the Treasurer and one of the Trustees of the Charity, announced the closure in a statement read out at a recent Health Forum meeting. She explained that in 2023, the Charity passed a resolution to dissolve in accordance with its Constitution, tasking the Trustees with winding up the Charity and disposing of its funds, while adhering to the rules of the Charity Commission.

As the Charity had significant funds available, an offer of £25,000 was made to the York & Scarborough Trust with the aim of supporting a specific project to benefit patients at the Hospital. However, as no specific project was identified, the Trust requested suggestions for items from the Ward Sisters. A list of requirements was put forward, including items such as a Refrigerator, Model Eyeball, Hoist, Bladder Scanners, Bath Hoist, replacement TVs, an Interactive Rehabilitation Tool, and Medicine Trolleys. These requests were carefully considered and agreed upon by the Charity, although obtaining details of the items from the Trust was not straightforward.

Despite the Charity's willingness to donate, the process encountered significant delays. According to Carol French, speaking at the Health Forum meeting, there was a "lack of progress" which she outlined in a letter to Simon Morritt and Martin Barkley, the CEO and Chair of the Trust respectively, in January 2024. The Executive Assistant to Mr. Morritt responded, apologising for what the Charity considered a "lack of progress" and expressed hope that matters would improve.

However, further complications arose, including adjustments to the requested items by the Trust, the need for committee approval within the Trust for purchases, and issues with procurement and communication. Carol French stated that 

"a great deal of time has been wasted by unnecessary bureaucracy and more particularly the lack of communication".

Carol French expressed the Charity's frustration, stating, 

"All we can say is the people’s money that is waiting to be used and it should not take 19 months to obtain items which everyone agrees would benefit patients in Bridlington Hospital". 

She confirmed that while the majority of the requested items have now been received and are in use, some, such as the TVs, still face installation issues.

The Charity has now ceased actively fundraising, as they felt the Trust did not seem to want to receive the funds raised by the people of Bridlington and surrounding areas. Despite the decision to close, the trustees say

"the Charity will continue to support the Hospital and hope that this particular saga will come to fruition shortly, but rest assured the Charity will ensure that the funds are spent to benefit the patients of Bridlington Hospital". 

The Charity has already offered £25,000 to the York & Scarborough NHS Teaching Hospital Trust, and items costing this amount are being provided by the Trust.

Under the rules and regulations of the Charity Commission, the Friends of Bridlington Hospital will continue to exist for a further three years in order to wind down its affairs. Any remaining funds will still be allocated for the benefit of patients at Bridlington Hospital, and the Charity hopes to make purchases directly to avoid the "protracted bureaucracy" experienced with the current donations. 

Carol French noted that the York Trust has its own charity and suggested that if individuals wish to make a donation, they should specify the hospital they want their donation to go to.

The Friends of Bridlington Hospital, a "volunteer lead charity", has had the sole aim of supporting the Bridlington & District Hospital by providing funds. The closure marks the end of the Charity’s 73-year association with the hospitals in Bridlington.