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This treasured local Charity was set up by public meeting in Henley in 1955 and is still run by local Trustees as a purely voluntary body.

Funding comes from small annual membership subscriptions, social fundraising events, donations and legacies. 

We focus on carefully considered purchases and initiatives to help augment the provision of “one stop`’ medical services at our valued Community Hospital and to enhance the “patient experience”.

Our Committee includes medical representatives who help appraise the quality of any bids to our fund.

Recently funded items are a treadmill, ultrasound scanner, bladder scanner, neurological and ophthalmic equipment.

We also funded production of a Townlands patient services brochure and refreshments for the free Health Talks provided in the Hospital for the local community.

If you’d be interested to join us, our Committee meets up to 4 times a year, including an Annual General Meeting.

For 2020, we need to recruit a qualified Accountant to prepare the Annual Springtime Audit of our Accounts (drafted by our Hon Treasurer) and a new Chairperson to take over during the year.

All enquiries, please call Judith Nimmo-Smith (Chair of Trustees) on 07930 581732

Since our last AGM, we have made significant progress in providing equipment to help the developing range of outpatient services at Townlands.

Following the AGM presentation by Dr Antoni Chan, Assistant Medical Director and Rheumatology Consultant,  we agreed to fund the entire cost of an ultrasound scanner using the substantial legacy left by our late Chairman, Gerry Andrews.

We facilitated a Bid by Dr Bogdanovic, Neurological Consultant, for a special hand held device and the underwriting of its cost by the Townlands Action Group in memory of the late Cllr Terry Buckett MBE.

We also secured for Miss Bacon, Opthalmological Consultant, specialist equipment for the treatment of young children or those with special needs. We funded this using a legacy from the Late Mrs Muriel Truss.

A legacy, from the Late Mrs Doreen Cave has been used to fund production of a helpful pamphlet to inform the community of the wide range of services at Townlands and how to access them.

We continue to sponsor refreshments for the Bell Surgery Health Talks Series at Townlands.

We welcome to our Committee Dr Jenifer Copeland, who adds to our medical expertise and Mrs Emma Levy who brings fundraising and press experience.

Our Charity, launched in 1955, relies upon support from those in Henley and surrounds who enjoy the services offered at Townlands,

Friends may contribute as little as £10 a year; whilst many make substantial donations which we dedicate to carefully considered  purchases to enhance the patient experience.

Legacies continue to enhance our funding stream .We also have plans to revive fundraising events.

Guy Norgrove ,having moved away, steps down after many years as Treasurer and we thank him for his skill and affable contribution in so many ways  to the work of the Committee, leaving the Friends well set for the future.

We welcome hearing from anyone wishing to become a supporting Friend or with skill sets to offer the Committee.