Christina Pearce explains about Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, the charity which has fought to return local in-patient care.

The volunteers and trustees of Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust have never deviated from their mission to ensure the provision of 20 community beds locally, writes Christina Pearce. 

We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude; though their tireless efforts have often passed unnoticed, the trustees have worked hard and overcome many obstacles to arrive at the position this trust is in today.

The more obvious sign of the trust’s work was at the hospital shop in the centre of Cranleigh High Street, where I had the enormous privilege of working for the past 16 years. The shop was started as a means of raising funds for the project and to act as an information centre for anyone seeking an update on progress, but it became so much more. It was the go-to place for anyone seeking advice on sources of care locally, a drop-off centre for hand knitted clothes and blankets for a premature baby charity – the list was endless. After the hospital shop closed its doors in June, there was a little sadness tinged with the great joy in having contributed to the trust’s community beds achievement. 

Sadness, because for those of us who were involved in the shop, it brought us friendship and a bond which can only develop through working for a cause we all feel deeply committed.

Now that part of the project has become a reality, we move to the next phase, of local in-patient care. I am delighted to have been invited to join the Board of Trustees and will continue to ensure we reach our goal.