Cranleigh Village Hospital holds a special place in history as the first cottage hospital to be opened in England.
In 1859 the local GP, Dr Napper and the village rector, Archdeacon Sapte established the hospital with the support of generous patrons. The hospital flourished with donations of cash, in-kind support and subscriptions which were administered by a group of Trustees.
Cranleigh Village Hospital became part of the NHS in 1947 but state funding quickly proved insufficient to meet patients’ needs. This prompted the board of trustees to form the League of Friends of Cranleigh Village Hospital charity in 1949.
To this day, the League of Friends continues to advocate for Cranleigh Village Hospital and fundraises for improvements, new equipment, and a positive environment for patients and staff.
The League of Friends of Cranleigh Village Hospital is a registered charity and has been a company limited by guarantee since 2007. It is overseen by a Board of 14 Trustees/Directors who meet quarterly.
We hold our Annual General Meeting every November, with audited accounts available for anyone who is interested. See our Document library for information.
The Cranleigh Village Hospital League of Friends plays a crucial role in maintaining and expanding the range of healthcare services offered at Cranleigh Village Hospital, Cranleigh Medical Practice, and within the community. The Friends fundraise to provide grants that enable healthcare services to stay local. Recent contributions include:
£10,076 for a Bladder Scanner (2022)
£37,000 towards the Maternity Hub (2021)
£2,978 for an orthopaedic saw (2021)
£357,926 for the Radiology Department (2019)
We’ve also contributed to the purchase and installation of nine defibrillators throughout the village, including one at Cranleigh Arts Centre and another at the cricket ground.
We are proud to support Phyllis Tuckwell with an annual grant of £30,000 to provide end-of-life care beyond NHS capabilities, and contribute £10,000 yearly to Cranleigh Medical Practice for essential equipment. Our current goal is to establish more consultant services and outpatient clinics at the hospital, reducing the need for trips to the Royal Surrey for treatment.
Supported by Associate Members and volunteers, we strive to maintain our strong community presence. If you wish to join us, please contact us or download the Associate Membership application form.
We are grateful to our volunteer officers who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the League of Friends. They include:
President: Mrs Dianne Davies
Chairman: Dr Mike Bundy
Hon. Secretary: Mr Peter Hewes
Hon. Treasurer: Mr Malcolm Keeping
Bourne House,
Queen Street, Gomshall,
Surrey GU5 9LY
Co. No. 06075390 Reg. Charity No. 1120579
