WHILST being stuck in hospital for days, a chat with a friendly face is a welcome way to pass the time.

When the Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends was first formed in 1954 members acted as a source of funding as well as a listening ear for patients.

As hospitals in Colchester have changed dramatically with the fast moving technological advances, so has the role of the group, which now has more than 200 members.

But the basic philosophy of care for patients, visitors and staff has never changed.

The Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends started life as a single shop at Essex County Hospital in Lexden Road, Colchester.

Since then it has grown dramatically and now has seven shops across three sites - Colchester General Hospital, Essex County Hospital and the primary care centre.

Volunteers are still running shops, ward shop trolleys and library rounds and tea bars and are central to the day-to-day life of the hospital.

Grace Thompson, 94, has volunteered with the group for 50 years.

She said: “My late husband, Thomas, was the administrator of the hospital group so I got friendly with the hospital matrons.

“I got particularly friendly with a maternity matron who said she had a job for me. She said I could take a trolley around for patients.

“I had never heard of the league at that time, that was my first introduction to them.”

It was to be an association which has spanned five decades.

Grace has noticed a change in the pace at work and said the length of time patients stay in the hospital has reduced.

“We had chocolate and sweets and magazines, going around the wards as people would stay in hospital a lot longer then,” she said.

“You would be in hospital after having a baby for about ten days, now it’s a matter of hours.

“Nowadays we have tea bars and shops everywhere.”

The hospital group included the former maternity hospital in Lexden Road, Essex County Hospital and the former St Mary’s Hospital in Colchester.

Gradually, most hospital services have moved to Colchester General Hospital in Turner Road.

Grace still goes around Colchester General Hospital once a week and is usually accompanied by her good friend, Linda Van der Mark.

Together they man the tea bar at Essex County Hospital on Friday mornings.

Grace said: “When we went around with the trolley we spent quite a lot of time speaking to people because they wanted to talk but the situation has changed completely.

“Things have altered so much it’s hard to put into sentences but the league just goes on helping whenever people need help.

“All the money we make on the trollies goes back to the hospital, our main objective is to be of service to patients and we have provided a number of things, financially it’s an instrumental organisation.

“We meet people from all walks of life, some enjoy talking, some like to laugh and joke, and, of course, we regard all the staff as our friends.

“Voluntary work at hospitals can be very rewarding, we chat to patients, some of whom come regularly, some we get to know sufficiently to be able to pre-empt what colour they like their tea or coffee.

“They regard us as friends and a greater compliment couldn’t be paid.”

Over the years the league has held successful appeals for the Elmstead Day Unit children’s play area, the Breathe Easy support group and the eye scanner at Colchester General Hospital, as well as helping at Essex County Hospital with the breast scanner appeal.

In recent years a donation of £15,000 was made by the league towards the appeal to create a Time Garden for patients at the end of their lives and money has also been collected and donated to the Cancer Centre Campaign. Donations have also included those to pay for blood tracking equipment for the haematology lounge, tables and chairs for wards in Gainsborough wing, a bladder scanner for Elmstead Day Unit and furniture for the refurbished bereavement suite at Colchester General Hospital.

Frank Jordan, who is the chairman of the league, said: “Over the past 12 months we have donated more than £50,000 worth of equipment.

“I have been a member for 15 years and our role is to support the hospital in any way we can.

“In some ways it’s through donations of equipment or providing the trolley service.

“Patients like somebody to talk to as they are happy to see people other than medical staff.”

The league held an annual strawberry tea at Myland Parish Hall thanking 12 volunteers for their hard work, including the long-serving Grace.

Mr Jordan described Grace’s 50 years of dedication as an amazing achievement.

Nick Hulme, chief executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said the League of Friends has made a huge difference to the lives of staff and patients at the hospital.

He said: “The League of Friends has been serving our patients with outstanding dedication, commitment and care for more than 60 years, and I would personally like to thank them for the positive contribution they continue to make.

“Their volunteers make a big difference to our patients on a daily basis in so many ways, and the league continues to provide equipment and facilities for our hospitals.

“For example, last year the friends made a generous donation of £15,000 to the Time Garden Appeal to create a special garden at Colchester General Hospital for patients who are approaching the end of their life and their loved ones.”

To volunteer for the league, call 01206 752899 or complete and submit the application form on the group’s website, www.clhf.co.uk