FRIENDS OF INSCH HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY
Registered Scottish Charity No SC009720
The Friends of Insch Hospital and Community group was started in 1989 following the previous year’s campaign against the proposed closure of the maternity service at Insch Hospital. It has continued to be an active group over the years, with fundraising and provision of equipment , furnishings and “extras” for patients in Insch Hospital, Health Centre and in the community. In addition they provide a transport service for patients wishing to attend Insch Hospital Day Care (4 days per week) or who need transport to Health Centre appointments (once a week).
The Friends part-funded the Day Room extension to the Hospital which opened in 1993 and have continued their commitment to Day Care which is currently held there. Representing the community, the Friends, together with the Insch Hospital Action Group, liaise with NHS Grampian to ensure the continued provision and development of services in Insch as well as trying to find ways to improve the standard and availability of clinical accommodation on site.
Donations are sometimes received from individuals, groups and funeral collections. Their main fundraising event is the annual Strawberry Fair held in the hospital grounds. Grants are sometimes applied for, to cover specific projects such as the hospital field/community garden which they established and still maintain, and for example, a creative writing project which ran a few years ago.
Entertainment and concerts are regularly funded by the Friends. They supply a hospital trolley selling toiletries and other essential items to in-patients.
An AGM is held annually in May and the Friends would encourage any interested members of the community to join the group. They try to have wide representation from the geographical area served by Insch Hospital as well as from different age groups.
The Friends are proud to be associated with Insch & District War Memorial Hospital and Insch Health Centre as well as the community they serve. They would encourage members of the public to remain interested in what they do and to contact Health Centre reception to find out up to date contact details for the committee.