History of the Chalfonts and GX Hospital and League of Friends

The First 75 Years

The Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross Cottage Hospital was established in 1871 (opened 19 June 1871) in a building and site donated by J.N. Hibbert of Chalfont Park, whose family wealth came from the slave trade. The Hospital was maintained by public subscription and contained 6 beds and 1 cot. The hospital provided beds for servicemen during the First World War.

It was extended in the 1920s and 30s by the addition of a surgery (the octagonal room to the front of the hospital) and additional ward space. During the Second World War the hospital again provided beds for servicemen and evacuees.

By 1945 it had been enlarged into a small general acute GP hospital of 32 beds and a small surgery unit.

In 1948 the Hospital joined the NHS under the control of the High Wycombe and District Hospital Management Committee, by then it had 36 beds.

 Details at Lost Hospitals of London web page here https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/chalfonts.html ,  For pictures of the hospital over the past 150 years visit the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOBH5zc7oWM

The League of Friends

The “League of Hospital Friends” movement in England started in 1952 and grew rapidly. The Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross Hospital League of Friends was inaugurated in 1954, with the object of giving practical help to the Matron, sewing, visiting patients, transporting tonsil cases, and raising funds for the amenities of patient and staff. Over the years the Friends have helped hospital patients and staff in many ways including:

Organised a voluntary car service for Outpatients and Physiotherapy patients plus a flower-care team and trolley service for the wards.

1979 – funded the building and equipping of an up-to-date X-ray department at an estimated cost of £110,000. A Special Appeal from May to November 1979 raised enough for the building of the Department.

1987/88 nearly £30,000 was spent on the purchase of a portable electronic keyboard for Church Services at the Hospital, a flexible sigmoid scope, double glazed windows in sluice/bathroom/toilet areas, blinds, accessible toilets, and a visual screen analyser for glaucoma patients.

Purchased an Endoscope, a TV aerial system providing more TV access points and vastly improving reception, an Auto refractor for eye-testing, an ECG machine, an ENT light source and a nerve stimulator; pictures and clocks for the newly refurbished Memorial Ward; a new “air” mattress which greatly assisted in the treatment and prevention of pressure sores and funded the purchase of a radio system to pipe 4 programmes to each bed.

2000 – the Memorial Garden adjacent to Brooks Ward was commissioned, created and opened on 30 August.

2003 – funded a “One Stop Clinic”, to hold clinics to help and treat those people suffering from diabetes and an IV clinic, amongst other specialities.

2008 – having already closed Brooks Ward, the Primary Care Trust decided to move the inpatient unit (Memorial Ward) into alternative accommodation for the safety of the patients during the repair work. Outpatient facilities remained where they are pending decisions on re-building.

2011 – Chiltern Health, a private company, took over the Phlebotomy Service at our Hospital. On 1 July, Care UK (another private company) took over the Physiotherapy service.

2013 – The League designed and produced a printed leaflet giving details of the clinics the hospital has to offer together with the names of the specialists and times of the clinics. The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Clinic held in the downstairs ward, formerly Brooks Ward had League volunteers to help with refreshments.

2014 – three wheelchairs and some leaflet display box for Outpatients plus a microwave for the staff kitchen. Volunteers from the League and Chalfont St Peter’s Garden Club have maintained the Memorial Garden throughout the year.

2015 – The League funded a Skoda 4-wheel drive car for use by District Nurses now based in the hospital, enabling staff to reach patients with necessary care and equipment. The Health Visitors settled into “Brooks Ward” and areas such as the staff dining room are now used by the Diabetic Clinic and Podiatry Clinic amongst others – new chairs for these were purchased by the League.

2016.-.2018 – The heating at the hospital was repaired and improved, plus handrails along the corridor’s walls were funded by the League. A second trained part-time nurse to staff new Outpatients’ clinics requested by consultants was hired and their first year’s salary was funded by the League.

The League participated in the BHT engagement “Bringing Care Closer to Home” and the launch of community hubs at Marlow and Thame. The Community Hubs, bring together GP primary care services, community health teams and mental health and social care support services to provide integrated whole person care, working with community support groups in integrated care partnerships (ICP). The League discussed suggestions for community support for health and wellbeing in South Bucks with local organisations and groups.

2018- The Audiology suite equipment was funded by the League of Friends

2019 – 2021- The clinics and other work of the hospital was disrupted as the Hospital was designated as a Covid Vaccination Centre, which provided more than 75,000 vaccinations with the tireless support of staff and volunteers.

BHT opened a new diagnostics centre at Amersham Hospital offering a range of services, including X-ray, previously provided at Chalfonts and Gerrards Cross.

Having received a very substantial bequest The League of Friends supported the hospital staff at this stressful time but were unable to fund further developments until future plans for the hospital were clarified with BHT.

2022- The League joined with BHT to engage with the Hospital Staff, Buckinghamshire County Council Social Services, the South Bucks Oxford Foundation Trust Mental Health Team, local community organisations and local town and parish councils to discuss the future role and functions of the hospital.

We changed our name, dropping the words “League of” as we celebrated our 75th anniversary with hospital staff and leaders of BHT.

Having received the decision from BHT that the Hospital would become a “Centre for Health and Wellbeing” providing integrated physical and mental health and social care, working with local community groups we offered funding to rehabilitate, furnish and equip the Old Surgery as a meeting place and Digital Health and Wellbeing Hub