Local Residents Donate Nearly £500,000 For New Cranleigh Radiology Department

Published on: 2 Jun, 2019
Updated on: 5 Jun, 2019

Anne Milton opens Cranleigh x-ray as Dr Andy Carne looks on

A new radiology department at Cranleigh Village Community Hospital has been officially opened by Guildford MP Anne Milton, after the local community donated nearly £500,000. The department will provide x-ray and ultrasound services.

The Cranleigh League of Friends donated £400,000. In 2017, the group donated nearly £90,000 for ultrasound equipment. Cranleigh’s Evening Women’s Institute donated £6,000 for furnishings.

This means local patients no longer need to travel to Haslemere, Milford or Guildford. Last month marked a year since the Royal Surrey County Hospital took over provision of adult community health services to Guildford and Waverley.

Louise Stead, chief executive at RSCH, said: “Our community hospitals are vital in delivering services and care to the local population of Guildford and Waverley. The opening of this new radiology department in Cranleigh will make a huge difference to how we deliver outpatient services locally and will ensure patients do not have to travel as far.

“We have enjoyed working with the League of Friends and the Cranleigh WI to get this project over the line and we thank them for their generosity.”

Conservative MP Ms Milton said: “I was thrilled to be asked to officially open the new radiology department and I know I speak for many in thanking both the League of Friends and the WI for their extremely generous donations which have made this possible.

“Local people need services close to their homes and my grateful thanks also go to Louise Stead and everyone at Royal Surrey for working so hard to make sure this happens.”

Dr Andrew Carne, consultant radiologist at RRSCH, said: “This development will breathe new life into Cranleigh Village Hospital, facilitating not just x-ray and ultrasound but other outpatient services that could be provided locally.

“The generosity of local residents donating to the Cranleigh League of Friends and the Women’s Institute has been fantastic. We look forward to working in the new unit every week, bringing diagnostics and treatments closer to the community.”

Dianne Davies, chair of Cranleigh League of Friends, said: “The League of Friends of Cranleigh Village Hospital is delighted to be able to finance this new x-ray and ultrasound department through the generous donations of our community.

“The League uses all its donations to fund end-of-life care, equipment for the health centre and to develop new services for our community at the old hospital. This is a wonderful example of our continuing partnership with RSCH, bringing services closer to home.”

Pat Hill, from Cranleigh WI, said; “We are pleased the money we raised has been used to furnish the new x-ray department. The hospital is an integral part of the village and to see the new development is wonderful.

“Our Community Challenge Fund was raised with the goal to make a positive difference to our local community. We are so pleased we have been able to support this worthy cause.”
Cranleigh Village Community Hospital is part of the RSCH Foundation Trust and has been serving the community since 1859.