In the dark years of the First World War, scores of wounded soldiers were sent to Bognor Regis, only to be housed in temporary wooden huts under the care of local GP, Dr S Lane.
Aware that better facilities were needed, Mr James Fleming of Aldwick donated Springfield House in Chichester Road, adding £2,000 to equip the fledgling hospital with 8 beds, an operating theatre and a small outpatients department.
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital in 1919
By 1928, admissions had risen from the first year’s 26 inpatients to an impressive 258, with 237 operations being carried out.
Mr Fleming donated land adjoining the hospital and with many fundraising activities, they managed to raise £31,000 to build a new hospital. The foundation stone was laid in 1931 by Lord Leconfield JP (Lord Lieutenant of Sussex). The Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital was opened on 24th September 1932. This hospital had 29 beds, x-ray facilities, casualty department, theatres, outpatients department, two main wards and a children’s ward.
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital in 1932
With the formation of the National Health Department in 1948, the South Western Regional Hospital Board decided to close the Hospital, but were forced to shelve their plans in the face of protests and marches by the local residents.
The Friends of Bognor Hospitals was formed in 1953 to provide equipment and amenities not obtainable from the Ministry to improve the comfort and efficiency of Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital, Aldingbourne Chest Hospital and Hawthorn Road Annexe. Over the years with the help of Annual Fetes, membership subscriptions and donations, services at Bognor Hospital grew to include a hydrotherapy pool and day rooms.
The Casualty Department was threatened with closure, but once again public support led to a compromise being reached – the department could remain open on weekdays only.
With the near elimination of TB, the Aldingbourne Chest Hospital and Hawthorn Road Annexe were closed and sold and the proceeds invested in Bognor Hospital. Over the following years the Friends raised more funds to improve services until 1991 when Princess Alexandra opened a new extension which had cost the government over £6 million and been a decade in planning.
Don Baines
The Friends funded an Ecumenical Chapel in which the kneelers and stained glass windows were designed by Don Baines, then Vice-president of the Friends Committee. They also funded the modernisation and extension of the Casualty, X-ray and Outpatients departments, and provided Physiotherapy areas on two wards.
Over the years they have raised money to buy countless pieces of equipment, a PUVA Unit (for treating skin conditions), built a satellite Renal Dialysis Unit and funded many other projects for improving the facilities at the Hospital. They have also contributed to St Richards Hospital for their Scanner and Cancer Centre appeals as these services also benefit the people of Bognor Regis.
The Friends celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 2003 by donating £500,000 to extend and refurbish the Rheumatology Unit.
The Friends Today
The fundraising continues year upon year with fetes, raffles, bridge evenings, street collections etc and the Friends also rely heavily on donations, legacies and membership subscriptions. Members of the Friends receive regular newsletters informing them of the recently funded projects and dates of forthcoming events.
The subscription income is vital to the Friends’ fundraising efforts. Even the minimum subscription of £5 can go a long way towards enabling the Friends to fulfil funding requests. Each department has a ‘wish list’ of projects they would like the Friends to consider funding as money becomes available. These can vary from a few pounds for cushions or physio weights right up to tens of thousands for large pieces of equipment or structural work.
You can help this work by becoming a member or by making a donation. Your help and support is invaluable; every penny counts, so please support your local hospital.