Have your say and join our Whitby Hospital Development Task and Finish Group

Our Task and Finish groups for the development of our Whitby Hospital and it's gardens have been underway for a few weeks now and we would like for local members of the public to join us and provide their thoughts and feedback on how the development is progressing.

We value your ideas and feelings on the development of our services and the locations in which we provide them and this is why we are inviting you to join one of our upcoming 'task and finish groups', where you can learn more about the project, get involved, and have your say.

Don't just take our word for it though. We caught up with some of our staff, governors and charity members to understand the importance of being a part of these groups:

 

Mandy Cooper, Manager at Caring Together in Whitby

How are you involved in the Whitby project?

I am the Chair of the ‘Gardening and Landscaping’ group.

Why did you choose to get involved?

As I am the Chair of the Whitby Dementia Friendly Community, I thought it would be beneficial to get involved in the development of the gardens, so that they could be enjoyed by all in the community.

What does your involvement mean to you?

I am involved in various volunteering roles and I’m always willing to help, so I see this project as one of the ways I can be involved in and help our community.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining one of our groups?

I would say come along to the next meeting and see what you think. Ask your friends if they know about it too and encourage them to get involved, to help make the hospital and gardens a great place for everyone.

 

Doff Pollard, Governor for Whitby on the Humber Board

Why did you choose to get involved?

The hospital has been very important to me and I want to pay back by supporting the significance of the hospital within the community, as it was the community who fundraised to have it as a war memorial and that engagement makes a lot of difference in the ways people feel about and support their health facilities. I realise that it has been hard fought to keep the hospital within the town and appreciate the many people whose efforts have contributed to this refurbishment.

What does your involvement mean to you?

I feel it is a privilege to be elected as the Governor for Whitby on the Humber Board. My motivation is to seek to acknowledge and pay back for what the hospital and all the staff gave me when I needed it. I want to use what skills I have to support the hospital and the staff to be the best they can possibly be. I want to be available to listen to what the concerns are within the community and take them up and get them heard and where possible use them to influence the way forward.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining one of our groups?

This is the opportunity for you to have a say in how we want our hospital to feel and relate to the town and surrounding area as we need it to be at the heart of our community.

 

Caroline Walker, HCA on the Ward at Whitby Hospital

How are you involved in the Whitby project?

I am the Chair of the ‘Naming of the Ward’ group. We’re in the process of coming up with names for the wards and other parts of the new hospital.

Why did you choose to get involved?

I wanted to be involved with this as I felt someone needed to be a voice for the staff at Whitby hospital. Also, I thought it was important to involve the local community with the refurbishment of the hospital as well.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining one of our groups?

I would definitely encourage any local people to join one of the group and come together in the community, shaping the future of our local hospital.

 

Kristina Poxon, Fundraising Manager at Health Stars

Why did you choose to get involved?

As the manager of Health Stars, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust’s charity, working closely with the local community is very important to me.

What does your involvement mean to you? 

A: Overseeing these groups is really important to me, it’s a great way to meet active members of the local community, bring peoples visions and wishes to life and highlight ways of which charitable funds can be used to enhance the hospital rebuild, ensuring it remains the heart of the Whitby community.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining one of our groups?

Everyone’s voice and ideas are what helps to make dreams a reality. Working together and having a wide range of individuals around the table in these groups really brings out the realms of possibility. It is such an exciting project to be a part of and one which will mark the next steps in history for the hospital.

Involvement can be as small or large as the individual wants, most importantly its being involved and voicing those opinions.

 

Victoria Winterton, Head of Smile Health & supporting Health Stars, employed by HEY Smile Foundation 

Why did you choose to get involved?

At Health Stars & Smile, the Whitby Hospital Appeal is our next major appeal we are excited to have launched. When we launch a fundraising appeal it's so important to engage the local community in exactly what they are fundraising for, so that they feel involved in the project. I'm delighted to be playing a part of this appeal for such a wonderful hospital and community like Whitby. 

What does your involvement mean to you?

It means we get to hear the thoughts and ideas of local residents on how we can provide the bits of sparkle to make their hospital really special. It's absolutely a highlight of my work, when you're in hospital it's often not for a wonderful reason, so if we can make that experience better, that means the world to me. 

What would you say to someone who’s thinking of joining one of our groups?

Please get involved, the more people the better and we will try our best to make it as fun, engaging and worthwhile as possible. Whitby is a fantastic community and thank you so much for letting us be a part of it. Health Stars is really proud to be the charity for Whitby Hospital and if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

 

If you would like to be involved in one of our upcoming task and finish groups, to help us shape the development and future of Whitby Hospital and it's gardens, please don't hesitate to contact our team on hnf-tr.patientandcarerexperience@nhs.net.