Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital

The guests at the club’s meeting on 3 May 2023 were Paula Riley, Chair, and Fran Clint, Company Secretary, of the Friends of Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital Charity. The charity is one of those to be supported from the proceeds of Senlac Classic Car Show which will this year be held in Rye for the first time. Paula spoke about the background of the hospital and the role the Friends have.

The hospital dates back to the 12^th century when it was founded by monks from the French order of St Bartholomew as a leper hospital. It subsequently fell into ruins but later used as a barracks hospital was built. In 1844 a work house was built which eventually became a home for disabled people, Hill House Hospital, and after WW1 it was developed as a memorial hospital paid for by fundraising in the local community, The building incorporated a memorial wall listing the names of those people for Rye and the local villages who had lost their lives in service. The hospital was run by the community until 1948 when it was taken over by the NHS as a cottage hospital subsequently being closed in 1989 which it sparked furious reaction in the community. The Rye Hospital Charity was formed and with the help of Paul and Linda McCartney and Spike Milligan £5m was raised for a new build completed in 1995 comprising the memorial hospital and sheltered accommodation. Subsequently built on the site are the Rye Medical Centre, opened in 2007, and the Rye Hub, a wellbeing centre providing activities, therapies and a café for all, which opened in 2020. Plans have been drawn up for a care home but current rising costs have put the project on hold. The hospital is run by the East Sussex Health Trust (EHST) which provides a variety of clinics, diagnostic services, intermediate care to prepare patients for a return to home after hospitalisation, and end of life care supported by the Sarah Lee Trust. Intermediate patients not only live in the Rye and Winchelsea areas, they may also be from other towns and villages within the ESHT and Ashford regions. While EHST runt the hospital it is maintained by the Friends.

 The principal object of the Friends is to be the community facing arm of the Charity working closely with clinical staff and patients to support the needs of the Hospital; to raise funds in the community and to provide resources which enhance the services provided by the Hospital. The Friends buy things such as sliding mats, riser chairs and also expensive equipment such as an echocardiogram for which they are raising funds. Additionally they maintain the gardens, provide desk cover and do various other jobs around the hospital

For more information see the website https://ryehospital.org.uk