How We've Helped
Over the years, the Friends of the Edington have been very active in improving the environment within the Edington for both the in-patients and the patients of the minor injury unit (MIU). Televisions, radios and other items have been provided for the benefit of patients, along with various therapies and other home comforts. We have purchased items of medical equipment to be used within the Hospital, within the Health Centre or within the community.
Consequently, the Friends of the Edington have greatly improved the quality of care available to patients within the North Berwick and Gullane area. They have also made great efforts to improve the quality of life of patients in the Edington Hospital, many of whom were spending their last days there.
Following the closure to in-patients in September 2021 and the closure of the MIU, we have broadened our activities to enable us to help the community directly. In subsequent years we have held discussions with local health-focused community organisations, with a view to the possible awarding of grants to assist in the provision of specific health services which would otherwise not be provided.
This has resulted in the Friends supporting four organisations as follows:
- (i) a grant of £92,000 over three years to the North Berwick Day Care Centre Association to assist in the provision of their ‘Reach Out’ initiative to support people within the Community who are socially isolated, living with dementia or experiencing other complex medical conditions - and their carers;
- (ii) grants of £ 47,499 over three years to the North Berwick Youth Project to enable the continuation of their activities and services to school pupils from P7 upwards who are struggling with loneliness, isolation and mental health issues;
- (iii) a grant of £67,400 over three years to the GP Practice at the North Berwick Health Centre to support the continued part-time employment of a Community Links Liaison Worker in offering help and support to Practice patients with sometimes complex non-medical problems including loneliness and isolation and difficulties in accessing appropriate support and in claiming relevant benefits;
- (iv) a grant of £50,750 over two years to Coastal Community Connections (North Berwick) to contribute towards connecting potentially isolated or lonely people to networks, activities and friendships via one-to-one referrals and drop-in services such as coffee meetups, the ‘Scone Café’, walks, and community activities.
The Trustees have also purchased a number of items of medical equipment to allow the Health Centre to provide minor surgery and related services for which patients would otherwise have to wait and travel to hospitals further afield. Smaller grants are also available to assist with the specific health needs of individuals on application to the Trustees.
The Trustees are aware that current levels of expenditure will exceed our income and require us to draw from our capital reserves, but they are delighted to be supporting services which focus on alleviating the different health needs of a wide range of local residents of different ages and backgrounds.