Patients at Exmouth Hospital been given a lift thanks to a £6,000 donation for a new hoist to replace broken equipment.
The new equipment was made possible after a group of the town’s organisations, League of Friends of Exmouth Hospital and Exmouth Freemasons, teamed up to fundraise.
Staff at Exmouth Hospital said the new hoist was already in use to safely move patients who were bedbound or unable to stand.
The new hoist equipment is already in use at Exmouth Hospital.
Photo: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity.
Ward Matron Jade Dyer said: “This new hoist is already making a massive difference and we can’t thank the League of Friends and Exmouth Freemasons enough for such a wonderful donation.
“Without this piece of equipment, we simply wouldn’t be able to safely move or reposition bed-bound patients who are unable to stand or weight bear.”
The new hoist was officially presented to the hospital’s Doris Heard Ward, where League of Friends Chairman David Bassett thanked members of the Sun Lodge Charity Association and Rolle Lodge Charity Group for their support.
He said: “Together, we’re delighted to have been able to enhance patient care, support staff wellbeing, and strengthen community health services.”
The League of Friends has raised almost £3million for the hospital since it was set up in 1952, including £250,000 for a major refurbishment of the Geoffrey Willoughby surgical ward, and a new general outpatients in 2022.
New seating in the Minor Injuries Unit waiting room.
Photo: David Bassett
Donations in 2025 reached almost £75,000 and included funding for new minor injuries unit waiting room seating; a clinical ice making machine, garden plants and maintenance, plus artwork in the hospital corridors in collaboration with Exmouth Photo Group.
Pictured here is League of Friends Chairman David Bassett and Paramedic Practitioner Joe Jenson with the new clinical ice making machine. Picture: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity.
League of Friends of Exmouth Hospital Chairman David Bassett is shown here with artwork created in collaboration with Exmouth Photo Group. Photo: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity
Debbie Allen, Royal Devon Hospitals charity community fundraiser, said: “These generous donations are both brilliant examples of how the local community can help enhance patient care beyond what’s possible with NHS funding.
“This is something the Exmouth League of Friends has been doing incredibly well for many years and we can’t thank them enough for making such a difference to their local hospital.”
