A community fundraising group has marked the end of more than six decades of support with a final donation to help patients with prostate health concerns. The story was reported in the Rutland and Stamford Mercury and the Peterborough Telegraph.
The Friends of Stamford Hospital, established in 1963, raised more than £500,000 for hospital equipment and improvements benefiting patients, staff and visitors. Its final gift—a portable handheld ultrasound probe—was presented to the urology team at Stamford & Rutland Hospital.
Lauren Henson, Urology Lead Nurse at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, explained that the equipment enables assessments in different clinical settings, including remote and outreach clinics. It can improve access to care, reduce additional hospital visits, and help clinicians decide on further investigations.
The group is disbanding after struggling to attract new volunteers. Chair Kay Hircock described its fundraising total as an exceptional achievement for a small local charity.
Trust Deputy Chief Executive Charlotte Williams thanked members, past and present, for their dedication and generosity.
Although the Friends’ work supported many hospital services, their final donation leaves a lasting contribution to local prostate care.
Rutland and Stamford Mercury Front Cover and Inside.