Supporting and supported by Teddington Community since 1875
The hospital has been a vital part of the Teddington community since 1875. It first opened with just 4 beds as Teddington & Hampton Wick Cottage Hospital after a generous donation from philanthropist Thomas Chappell.
Before the First World War, the hospital was backed by the local Teddington community in various ways.
Every July, for example, the Teddington Amalgamated Societies put on a parade known as the ‘Hospital Demonstration Day’ to collect money from the public. Other efforts included the community being invited to donate a pound of dry foods to the hospital on ‘Pound Days’, and the local ‘Surrey Comet’ raised £500 through a ‘Shilling Fund’.
After the War, a new hospital was built, the Memorial Hospital, as a tribute to the 337 fallen of the town. The money to build the new hospital was raised entirely from voluntary contributions and charitable efforts. In 1929 the modern and well-equipped Teddington, Hampton Wick and District Memorial Hospital was opened.
Fortunately, the hospital weathered the threats of The Second World War, operating as a casualty clearing station sustaining only minor bomb damage. In 1948 became part of the newly created NHS.
Milestones in the formation of the League of Friends
In 1954 the League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital (LOF) was formalised to provide support to the hospital in the form of personal services to patients, a trolley shop, visitor refreshments and car service.
In 1981 the independent League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital was formed, and a new project for the provision of a new X-Ray Department was launched by LOF.
Since then, the LOF has not only continued to work hard on fundraising but also played a key part in protecting the hospital from NHS savings and possible closure. LOF continues to do so today to maintain local services for the local Teddington community.
What is The Friends of TMH today?
Affectionately known as ‘The Friends’ or the ‘LOF’, the League of Friends is an essential part of the Teddington community. The Friends supports the staff and patients of Teddington Memorial Hospital (TMH) by enabling and enhancing the quality and quality of provision of medical services, facilities and general improvements above the NHS funded baseline, ensuring the long-term future of the hospital.
The LoF is proud of its 5 key values.
- Caring: defined as ‘displaying kindness and concern for others’ but also ‘the practice of looking after others’. It’s at the heart of what we do.
- Trusted: meaning both ‘to have a firm belief in ability’ and ‘being responsible for something’. We are proud to be trusted to support TMH in the best way possible.
- Integrity: whereby we uphold our strong principles to support staff, patients, and the community.
- Efficient: as we strive to maximise our results without wasted expense or effort.
- Reliable: because we make every effort to ensure our activities are consistently of the very highest quality.
The objective of The Friends is to create a partnership between Teddington Memorial Hospital, the local NHS, local organisations, and the local community, raising money to ensure continuous funding for enhancement to the provision of equipment and services in both a reactive and proactive way.
How much has been raised and what for?
Over the last 20 years, the Friends has mounted large successful fundraising appeals and raised over £8m through the generosity of the Teddington community to deliver many improvements to Teddington Memorial Hospital that would not have been possible otherwise.
The NHS provides an appropriate baseline level of funding for Teddington Memorial Hospital. However, The Friends offers the opportunity for local people, local organisations, and businesses, large and small, to support and contribute to those additions that make the hospital so special and valuable to our community.
Here are some recent examples of The Friends fundraising supported by our local Teddington community.
- In 2020 The Friends funded and coordinated 5,619 good quality meals for local NHS staff when teams were working so hard to care for patients in very difficult Covid times, with food stuff kindly provided by local food businesses.
- 2018/19 through £168,000 of local community donations and fundraising, The Friends funded a complete redesign of the Reception Area at TMH. The improvements have made a massive difference to patient experience, to confidentiality at the reception desk and provided a more comfortable seating area.
- The Friends funded a new state of the art, high technology imaging X-ray machine costing £366,523.09, only made possible by the generous donations from the local Teddington community which will further enhance the type of treatment patients receive at TMH.
How can you help?
There are numerous ways you can get involved with The Friends.
One of the easiest ways is to simply make a one-off donation using the Donate button on this page. Or when you’re visiting the hospital simply tap the contactless donation point to give a £3 donation or drop your change in the slot.
Alternatively, you may wish to join The Friends of TMH. As a member, you will be kept in touch with our activities and projects undertaken for further improvement of facilities and equipment at the hospital. You will also be invited to attend and vote at AGM and EGM meetings.
If you would like to be more actively involved, become a volunteer. Our volunteers help in The Friends shop in the hospital, with fund-raising activities and at local community events. Volunteers play an essential role in enabling The Friends to maintain its services within the hospital.
We also invite local businesses and organisations, large and small, to support The Friends by sponsoring events, providing volunteers, and promoting LOF as their chosen charity.
To find out more click Get involved to join, donate or volunteer.