Interviewer

Good afternoon. Could I start by asking your name?

Anne Hare

Anne Hare

Interviewer

Anne, which hospital are we talking about today?. And could I ask how old you are?

Anne Hare

Basildon,  69.

Interviewer

Excellent. Now, have you always been a Basildon girl?

Anne Hare

No.

Interviewer

So what brings you to Basildon? Where did you start life, and what brought you here?

Anne Hare

I was actually born in Danbury, but that is now the Hanningfield Reservoir. So it’s all part of that. And then we moved to Brentwood, and then after marrying my husband, I moved to Basildon.

Interviewer

Excellent. And what got you involved in hospitals?

Anne Hare

I worked at Basildon Hospital for 14 years. I started off on the Bank as we used to have records, films, and they used to be filed in the library. And I chose to do Bank because I still had two boys at school. And that fitted in with me, and then I got asked would I like to join, and so I did. So I started off  in the Bank, and then I went to X-Ray Department. I had done Maternity, and Ultrasound. And then after that I moved on to Acute Medical.

Interviewer

So did you become, what I would understand as a Ward Clerk?

Anne Hare

I was a Ward Clerk, yes.

Interviewer

And what did you enjoy about that?

Anne Hare

Meeting the people, various patients, and the staff were lovely as well. And it got me involved with things. Things that I enjoyed. I couldn’t be a Nurse. I’m not cut out to be a Nurse, but I did enjoy that part, and then I retired early at the age of 60, with back problems.  And then we were getting over the back problem, and then I had breast cancer.  And that’s when I came to the League of Friends to pay back.

Interviewer

Okay. So how long ago was that?

Anne Hare

That was seven years ago.

Interviewer

Okay. And did you always know,  as a member of staff, about the League of Friends ?

Anne Hare

Yes because we used to come here, we used to go, and get our chips, and then come here for our rolls. So that was a daily thing.

Interviewer

Okay. That good healthy diet of chips, and rolls.

Anne Hare

Well when you’re doing a 12 and a half hour shift.

Interviewer

For a Ward Clerk you had to do 12 and a half hours?

Anne Hare

We started at half seven in the morning, and went home at eight.

Interviewer

Really?  That’s interesting. So now I’m fascinated because I’m quite used to nowadays Ward Clerks, perhaps only doing a half day or something like that on a Ward.

Anne Hare

I think it depends what Ward.

Interviewer

Okay.

Anne Hare

I mean we were sort of connected with outside doctors, GPS and A&E.

Interviewer

Lots of admin and paperwork to do?

Anne Hare

Yes a lot.

Interviewer

They must have been delighted. The nurses must have been delighted they had you as their member of staff, I have to say.

Anne Hare

Oh, I think they were, yes. A lot of them were.

Interviewer

And out of interest, do Ward Clerks exist in the same way today?

Anne Hare

I think they’re trying to cut hours. I think they’re trying to get Ward Clerks, and also the Discharge Facilitators to do more than one ward.

Interviewer

Okay.

Anne Hare

Yes.

Interviewer

So it’s changing?

Anne Hare

It is. Everything is changing.

Interviewer

So now you’ve been unwell, and you know the League of Friends. Did you know any of the people in it particularly?

Anne Hare

No. Not a soul.

Interviewer

Okay. So you arrive, what do they ask you to do?

Anne Hare

Well I had to spend a week just learning how to butter rolls, and fill rolls, and make tea.

Interviewer

Because you’ve never done that before, obviously.

Anne Hare

No. Never.

Interviewer

You’ve got two boys, and God knows what else.

Anne Hare

No, but it was good.

Interviewer

And what role do you play now?

Anne Hare

I’m the Chairperson.

Interviewer

And can I ask, how did that come about?

Anne Hare

Well, actually, I just volunteered to be the Chairperson.

Interviewer

Okay.

Anne Hare

Yes.  I had just started. Anyone interested in the role?  Because the other lady had stepped down.

Interviewer

Yes?

Anne Hare

And I said, “well I’ll have a go. ” So I’m learning.

Interviewer

So really it’s been a learning experience. I think that’s important for people who think they want to get involved in the voluntary sector. And sometimes you find yourself on the Committee, and sometimes you find yourself in a position of responsibility, but people help you don’t they?

Anne Hare

Very much. And I need help.

Interviewer

Well I think you’re doing really well. So we are looking at a shop because I’ve just been asking that you’re open five days a week.  Because we are in outpatients. So if anybody’s listening to this, and they’re passing outpatients it is where you get your rolls.  At the moment we’re open from 10 till two. And you are roughly raising, listening to the figures, on a good week between 1500 and 2000 pounds a week?

Anne Hare

Yes and all we take out is for our supplies.

Interviewer

Yes.

Anne Hare

And that is all. And the rest goes to the hospital, and the ladies fares.

Interviewer

Yes, of course.

Anne Hare

You know their travel expenses.

Interviewer

So people might think, what sort of things does the League of Friends buy? Can you give me some examples of the things that you’ve bought over the years?

Anne Hare

We bought special cots for the babies, the Maternity Unit, and also so the parents can stay over with the children. Special chairs, So they can have the child with her. And also an Oxygen Supply Device. That’s for when doctors will go out to the car parks,  and help the patient if they’re having a cardiac arrest or anything. And that can help them maybe survive better.

Interviewer

How is it decided what you should fund or what you should support?

Anne Hare

What we ask is for the Ward Managers to do their requests, send them to either Claire or Jonathan or Head of Volunteer Services. They decide where our money goes. They decide who has a right to have the money.

Interviewer

So what they do is they act as almost like a filter for what comes through. But then you, your volunteers on the committee then decide between them if they’re going to vote to support that or not?

Anne Hare

We usually decide because it’s usually the vital things they need, and we don’t mind.

Interviewer

So if they ask,  you quite often say yes.

Anne Hare

Yes, absolutely. Usually nine times out of 10.

Interviewer

Volunteering can be hard work, what keeps you at it?

Anne Hare

I like it. I like the people. I’ve made new friends, and it’s a nice atmosphere.

Interviewer

So when you knew I was coming to see you today, is there anything you wanted to tell me you haven’t had the chance to say?

Anne Hare

No, not really.

Interviewer

Excellent. Well thank you ever so much, and thank you for your time. Thank you.