Our Services

Hospital shops

The League of Friends has three shops throughout the hospital. These provide a valuable service for patients, staff and visitors by selling food, snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines, cards and many other useful items. The Main Shop is situated in the entrance to the 1937 Hospital building, and is open six days a week. Two others are to be found in front of the Fracture Clinic and in the Outpatients Department.

The running of the shops is overseen by a Shops' Manager, a deputy manager and a small team of staff. However, a large amount of support in the shops is provided by our fabulous League volunteers. We are extremely fortunate to have more than 40 volunteers who give up their free time to work shifts in the various shops.

Trolley Service

For patients who have to undergo a spell in the hospital as an inpatient, the League also provides a service whereby newspapers, magazines, confectionary, soft drinks, etc, are taken round on a trolley to each ward once a day. 

Mobile library

To help pass the time whilst in hospital, a highly-valued mobile trolley service is provided to the wards by our friendly volunteers. The mobile library offers patients a good selection of books and magazines on free loan.

Our Volunteers

The League is extremely fortunate to have volunteers involved in fundraising activities in our eight City and local village groups together with those providing in-hospital services. Alongside the hugely valuable support provided to the hospital, our volunteers thoroughly enjoy the social aspect of being part of the League, working with old friends and the opportunities for meeting new people; indeed, many of our volunteers enjoy it so much that they have been with us for 20 years or more - some as many as 40 years and one over 60 years!!!  However, we are always looking for new people to join the League of Friends, so if you are interested in finding out more please click here.

Christmas gifts

Each year, the League assembles gift bags for all patients who will be in hospital over the festive period and for children attending clinics in the days running up to Christmas. Typically, around 700 gifts are distributed to the inpatient wards and child clinics, spreading festive cheer.

Stamps, Coins & Collectibles

Used stamps, stamp albums, coins, bank notes and first day/commemorative covers all raise funds for the League. Since 2014 around £16,000 has been raised and the service continues to go from strength to strength. Donations are gratefully accepted at any of our four on-site hospital shops or collection can be arranged in the local area. Any used stamps donated should have a 1cm border around them, otherwise we cannot use them.