Seaton Hospital League of Friends contributed over £3 million in today’s money over its first 25 years
I have been examining figures for the Seaton and District Hospital League of Friends’ contributions to the hospital.
It appears that the figure of £1 million in today’s money, based on the figures in Mary Ward’s booklet, grossly underestimates the contribution which the local community has made, through the League, to the building and running of the hospital.
I currently have full figures only for the first 25 years, from 1985 to 2009 inclusive. During this time the League contributed, taking all types of expenditure into account, £1,906,385.10 to the hospital in constant prices. However converting the annual figures into 2016 prices (using the Bank of England’s inflation calculator), the League contributed £3,012,425.42 over the period in today’s money.
I am waiting for fuller figures for 2010-17, as well as some clarifications on the nature of the expenditure, and I will post a more complete analysis when I have these.
I leave readers with a quote from Mary Wood, the first Matron: ‘The League of Friends is enormously grateful to the Exeter Health Authority for fitting the wishes of the people of Seaton and District into its financial plans. Over the past five years the Authority has backed us in the realisation of our dream. This must never be forgotten.‘
No one could say that of the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, which has sabotaged – with the support of leading East Devon Conservatives – the excellent hospital which the people of the area and the local NHS built up over the last 30 years. That too should never be forgotten.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 