Friends Voices

Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949

Ealing Hospital League of Friends

The original Ealing Hospital first opened in 1871, it was called the Ealing Cottage Hospital, and was located at Milton Lodge in Ealing Dene. It was enlarged in 1873, and again in 1886, it had 16 patient beds. In 1911 it was replaced by a new hospital located in Mattock Lane, and it was opened by the daughter of Queen Victoria. At the beginning of WW1, the hospital reserved 10 of its beds for wounded servicemen, and by 1915, the hospital’s capacity had been increased to accommodate 70 beds.

The Ealing Hospital League of Friends was founded in 1992, when the current hospital was built. The charity was set up to provide assistance for patients and staff at Ealing Hospital. In the beginning , the Friends had two outlets. The one in the main entrance was moved about on a regular basis, the other outlet was located in the Outpatients Department. Both shops were run by two separate groups within the Friends, and they had very different presentations, and were both open for different hours.

Seventeen years ago, the site in the Outpatients Department was turned into a cafe. On weekdays it was open between 8:30 am and 5 pm, and between 12;30 pm and 2 pm on Saturdays. Before the Coronavirus Pandemic, the cafe was supported by 70 volunteers.

The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic was devastating for many businesses and charities, including the League of Friends at Ealing. The pandemic meant the Friends cafe was closed for three months, and reopened in 2022 and is currently open from 9 am until 3 pm, and is supported by 40 volunteers.

The group is very proud that with the funds it raised, it was able to support funding for ‘extras’ in the hospital, and pieces of hospital equipment. A bereavement room was set up for relatives in the A&E department.

Address: League of Friends, Ealing hospital, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3HW
Email: lnwh-tr.leagueoffriends@nhs.net
Phone: 020 8967 5542
Website:
Founded: 1992
Members: 80
Chair: Steven Victor Jackson.

1992

In 1992, The Ealing Hospital League of Friends was set up to provide assistance to patients and staff at Ealing hospital.

1993

The Friends set up two outlets, one in the main entrance, and one in the Outpatients Department. Both shops were run by two separate groups of volunteers, and they both had different opening hours. The outlets served as a strong source of income for the Friends.

2005

in 2005, the Outpatients Department was transformed into a cafe. On week days it was open between 8:30 and 5pm, and on Saturday’s, it was open between 12:30 and 2pm. The cafe was supported by 70 volunteers.

2020

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic meant that the Ealing Hospital League of Friends had to close both of their outlets to the general public.

2022- present day

Since the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, the Friends Cafe has reopened with reduced hours from 9-3pm, the cafe is now supported by 40 volunteers, and it’s not yet known whether the other volunteers will return.

The group is proud of the funds that have been raised, and the friends are always looking for ways to invest the money to better the lives of patients and staff at Ealing Hospital. An example of this is is a bereavement room that was set up in the A&E Department, to help grieving families who had just lost a loved one.