History
The history of Budleigh Salterton Hospital and the League of Friends
1887
In 1887, to mark Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, Dr Tom Evans and the Rev Boucher got together with a desire to mark that event with something of importance, that would benefit those less fortunate within their community. They formed the ‘Budleigh Salterton Jubilee Committee and contributors to the Cottage Hospital’. The Hon Mark Rolle generously gave the site and paid the legal expenses. The initial tender to build of just over £1000 was felt too much and in the end Mr Palmer the local builder submitted a tender for £780 which was accepted.
1888
1894 PHOTO: ELC Layard
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The foundation stone was laid by the Rev Boucher and the hospital formally opened on the 11th December 1888 . The Rev Boucher had given initially £500 to the building fund and followed this up with a £1000 endowment to be invested to pay for maintenance, which was incredibly generous.
Patients had to pay depending upon their means. Some were unable to pay and ‘ The needy patients and surgical aid fund ‘ was set up . Again the Rev Boucher generously supported this fund. There were initially 2 beds in each of two dormitories and one single room. Mrs Warrington was the only Matron and worked day and night for nothing. As the work increased one nurse joined her, whose pay was just £10 each year. In 1904, the National Telephone company installed a wire to Dr Evans and Dr Semple’s home and between Dr Evans’ and Dr Walker’s homes at a cost of £8 per annum. |
1907
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In 1907 the Hon Mark Rolle died and Lord Clinton took his place on the committee of the hospital. Throughout his life Lord Clinton, the 22nd Baron Clinton, continued to be a great supporter of The League of Friends and Seachange. We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the Clinton Estate.
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1912
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LEFT: Matron Lewis RIGHT: Nurse Baker PHOTO: Donor William Cowd no details of photographer |
1914
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The first operating theatre opened.
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1948
In 1948, with the inception of the NHS, the State took over the costs of the hospital with £7000 capital. Inevitably there was a feeling within the community that there would be no longer a need for voluntary help and fundraising, and interest in the hospital dropped away alarmingly, something that happened across the country . It soon became clear that the State would provide the bare minimum and to have facilities and amenities to be proud of, support would still be required. The supporters of the Hospital and the previous committee running it were asked to attend a meeting to form the ‘ League of Friends of Budleigh Salterton Hospital ‘. Just 27 people turned up, an inauspicious start, however the League of Friends was formed on the 4th November 1948.
1948-2000s
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It took quite a few years to raise interest again within the community and build a good relationship with the management running the cottage hospital on behalf of the state, but things did change. Over the coming years, the League contributed enormously to the hospital, refurbishing the Accident and Emergency unit, Physio Department, and the nursing quarters and ensuring that there were comfortable chairs, the latest hospital beds and a lovely environment with flowers and other welcome touches
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2000s
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In the 2000s, before the hospital inpatients beds closed, the League paid for the development of two lovely large single rooms suitable for end of life care.
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2017
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It became inevitable with all the changes within the NHS that the beds were likely to be removed from the hospital. There was justifiable concern within the community that this wonderful asset could be closed as a result of the loss of the inpatient beds. The League of Friends under the chairmanship of Dr David Evans was instrumental in supporting a plan to develop the hospital further by using the space to support social care and all those other activities that are so important for the health and wellbeing of the community , whilst continuing to provide NHS outpatient services. A truly integrated health and wellbeing hub was developed for the benefit of all in the community, opened in 2017 by Lord Clinton. The League of Friends contributed over £600,000 to fund this development, and they continue to support the hub, ’Seachange‘ as it is now known, which is now a charity in its own right.
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2023
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With all the changes over the last 10 years and uncertainty about the future of the Hospital, fundraising and also interest in the League had diminished again. Now the new charity ‘Seachange’ was up and running, it was felt that it was time to promote awareness of the League within the community again. It was apparent that there was still an enormous amount that could be done to help the health of the community after the long period of austerity and the Covid pandemic. Thinking of the future and how to reconnect with younger generations, the League employed a marketing company to consider how to project the League going forward. This led to a change in how the League would be known locally to ‘The Budleigh Fund‘ with the seahorse logo.
The League of Friends / Budleigh Fund will continue to support Seachange, but as Seachange becomes a successful charity in its own right, there will be increasing opportunities for The Budleigh Fund to fund other projects within the community that can benefit health and reduce inequality. This feels very much in keeping with the wishes and hopes of those who were at the beginning of this story and something that feels as important now, as it was then. |
