The friends shop

In 1993, when the Friends of King George moved to its current site in Barley Lane, the new hospital opened a hospital shop, bringing in more funds for the Friends to direct to more ambitious things the hospital needed. This included items to beautify patients’ spaces, more medical equipment, and additional training for staff.

The hospital shop, run by the Friends, raised over £2 million for the King George Hospital over their 50 years of running. This fundraising supported the purchase of many important aspects of the hospital, including artwork, wheelchairs, and heart monitors. They also helped fund more complex appliances, such as a handheld imaging system and an upper endoscopy simulation model.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic the shop was making about £45,000 annually for the King George Hospital. Unfortunately, The pandemic meant the hospital shop closed.

Discussions with the hospital are ongoing around reopening the Friend shop in a suitable space.