Coronavirus: Eastbourne charity cancels fundraising event and hospital services

The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital fundraising events, which were due to take place in July, have been cancelled and the Friends Radiotherapy Café and the Friends Flower Shop have closed with ‘immediate effect’ following government advice regarding Covid-19.

A Friends spokesperson said, “Following government advice the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital have had to cancel all fundraising events until the middle of July.

“However, we are still fundraising for the Eastbourne DGH and this year’s special project, which is to raise £430,000 to ‘Make Radiology Digital’.

“Our main concern at this time is our volunteers’ and supporters’ health and safety, which is why we have made the decision to close the Friends Radiotherapy Café and the Friends Flower Shop, with immediate effect.

“The trust made the decision to suspend the ward trolley services last week. The Friends Shop is open for reduced hours and we continue to follow government and trust advice and acknowledge that this might need to change.”

The spokesperson said the charity will ‘strive’ to support the DGH at this difficult time.

The spokesperson said, “The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital are here to support the DGH, its staff, patients and visitors; we will strive to do this at this difficult time.

“As soon as we are able to, we will start arranging an autumn programme of events and hope that the people of Eastbourne continue to support us in the same generous way they always have. The Eastbourne DGH needs the public’s support now more than ever before.”

• Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an illness which affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms are a high temperature and continuous cough.

• NHS advice is to regularly wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell. • If you live alone, stay at home for seven days if you have either a high temperature or a new, continuous cough.

• If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill

• Call 111 if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your symptoms get worse.