Income dropping

Money from legacies, the charity's principal source of income to aid Bexhill Hospital, has slumped, treasurer Robin Barnett has told league volunteers.

He told last a meeting of the league's general committee that he believed it right to continue to draw attention to the worrying downward trend.

The latest financial position shows that the league has almost 2m in assets. It is seeking a major project in which to invest in the future of the hospital.

But in drawing attention to the 443,402 received in legacies, the treasurer warns: "The figure is high this year, as money has been received from legacies relating to 2004."

But he added: "This year I have been notified of just 10 new legacies. With the exception of one of 27,500, the average amount bequeathed is 1,000, making a total of 42,000 for the year.

"It is possible, therefore, that the total amount from legacies received during the next 12 months will be about 400,000 lower than this year.

"The large amount we have invested at the moment is accruing interest of about 80,000 a year. Clearly, this figure will decrease as our resources are depleted.

"Having said that, it is important that, under the rules of the Charities Commission, we identify an acceptable way to spend a significant proportion of the money bequeathed to us."

League officers have asked Bexhill and Rother PCT for a major scheme. They have been in negotiation since the Spring over theTrust's response.

They were told that further extension and refurbishment of the hospital's Irvine Unit would provide accommodation for the town's GPs to carry out new responsibilities placed on them by their national contracts.

The GPs were said to favour the scheme which would provide patients with improved services.

But after a presentation by Trust officers at the league's last meeting, GP members of the league said colleagues had not been adequately consulted and knew little about the proposal.

After checking with colleagues, they presented a report to last Thursday's meeting which confirmed this.

However, the meeting heard that there are now moves to form a committee of town GPs which will study the possibilities for improved GP services based at the hospital.

The league will now tell the Trust that it feels it is too early to commit the charity to a project which could swallow its entire reserves and that it will re-consider its options when more work has been done on finding a viable project.

Charity

shops

appeal

THOUGH their numbers are dwindling, a band of dedicated volunteers has again raised 9,000 for the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital.

Now social committee chairman Harriett Chapman has made a renewed appeal for newcomers to the committee to help run the charity's shops in the hospital and in its Irvine Unit.

The shops are a popular feature with staff, patients and visitors.

They not only provide much-needed income for the league but help publicise its work on behalf of Bexhill patients.

New recruitment posters have been prepared for the League of Friends' shops and for other parts of the hospital in a bid to attract volunteers willing to lend a hand.

Anyone able to help is invited to contact Harriett Chapman on 210085.

At a meeting of the charity's general committee, league chairman Peter Mitchell Davis thanked the social committee for another year of devoted work for the hospital.