THE Friends of Fordingbridge Hospital are in desperate need of new recruits to ensure their good work continues in the town.

Over the years, the group has raised thousands of pounds for the hospital and fundraised for items such as electric adjustable beds.

The chairman of the group Ann Hickman, along with several committee members, has decided to step down at the Friends annual general meeting in April.

She said: “With regret I and several members of the committee have reluctantly decided we can no longer continue.

“Some of us have served for over 20 years and due to health reasons and advancing years feel we must call it a day.

“Like many other organisations we are finding it difficult to recruit new committee members and volunteers to serve morning coffee to patients, attend to the flowers on the ward and help us to run fundraising events. Without new recruits it will be difficult for the Friends to continue supporting the hospital in the way it has in the past.

“Times are changing and we feel that fresh faces are needed on the committee to meet today's new challenges.

“The future of the Friends depends entirely on your support.”

When the National Health Service was launched in 1948 a Comforts Fund was formed to provide those extras not supplied at the Fordingbridge Infirmary and the Cottage Hospital. The cottage hospital was later closed and the infirmary was renamed Fordingbridge Hospital.

It was not until 1986 that the name was changed to the Friends of Fordingbridge Hospitals and later to Friends of Fordingbridge Hospital.

Find out more by calling Ann on 01425 652910 or Lynette Stanford on 01425 657650.