Previous news items

Friends donate gold standard technology for Cardiac Rehab

The Cardiac Rehab service at St Cross has expanded its offering with the addition of the latest CardioPulminary Exercise Test (CPET) equipment donated by the Friends of St Cross.

The Friends helped bring a new service to St Cross

A new £1 million purpose built Haematology and Oncology unit has opened its doors at the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.

Volunteer David treats patients to an all-singing, all-dancing performance

Friends of St Cross volunteer David Harrop is no stranger to the stage, having performed in the West End, Las Vegas, Australia and New Zealand as a singer, dancer and actor.

The Friends have been honoured by the High Sheriff of Warwickshire

Joe Greenwell CBE DL, The High Sheriff of Warwickshire, attended the Friends Board meeting, on Zoom on the 8th of March 2021, and presented the Charity with a High Sheriff's Award.

Coventry BS and its savers donate £22,828

The Friends of St Cross have received another fantastic donation from Coventry Building Society, thanks to the support and generosity of its members.

Rugby PPE Response wins an OSCA

The Rugby PPE Response Team won the Volunteer Team Outstanding Service and Care Award from the UHCW Trust.

Local photographer book sales supports the Friends Sapphire Appeal

A poignant project chronicling lockdown life in a Warwickshire town is continuing to raise vital funds for the Friends Sapphire Anniversary Appeal.

Doctor says the community PPE response helped keep virus cases low

Rugby's rate of of confirmed Covid-19 infections and Covid-19 deaths has been below the national average - a fact one senior doctor has said is partially down to the hard work of volunteers in the area.

New multi-faith prayer room opens at St Cross

A new multi-faith prayer room has been opened at St Cross, offering patients and staff a space for moments of quiet contemplation and reflection.

Extra support for patients with neurological conditions in the community

We have provided 2 additional functional electrical stimulation devices for the Rugby Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Team.

Masons support the Friends

The local Masons lodges recognised that the lockdown has impacted many charities ability to raise funds and so the Friends were most grateful when Tracey Lennard, the Friends chair of Social Fundraising was contacted by her Salsa dance partner, Les Gill, who enquired how the charity was being impacted by the pandemic.

Rugby PPE Response asks for donations of material and support

The Rugby PPE Response is asking for donations of material or funds to buy more material for scrubs for nurses and cloth face masks for the community!

The Friends and Benn Partnership support PPE Response

The Rugby PPE Response has expanded dramatically over the last month and was outgrowing the space so generously provided by the Westside Medical Centre in Corporation Street and has moved to the Benn Partnership Centre.

Rugby Responds to the PPE Crisis

A group of over 30 volunteers in Rugby have come together to produce and deliver 1029 face visors to nurses, paramedics and care staff in Rugby by the 22nd of April 2020!

Friends help cheer patients over the Festive Season

The Friends of St Cross and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust Festive Befriending Initiative has been hailed as a success by patients, staff and volunteers from across the community.

Another massive donation from the Coventry BS

The Friends of St Cross have received another fantastic donation from Coventry Building Society, thanks to the support and generosity of its members.

Volunteers sought to befriend patients over the Festive Season

The Friends of St. Cross and UHCW NHS Trust are launching a joint appeal for volunteers to visit and befriend patients in the Hospital of St. Cross over the festive season.

Shorter waiting times for people suffering sleep disorders!

A new specialist service in Rugby is helping to diagnose and treat the 20% or more of the adult population who suffer from sleep disorders.

We helped bring another new service to St Cross

Outpatient Hysteroscopy examinations are now being provided in Rugby thanks to an equipment donation from the Friends of St Cross.

3rd Gala Concert is a great success

The Rugby Philharmonic Choir and the Jaguar Land Rover Band gave a fabulous performance at the 3rd Gala Charity Concert organised by the Friends and the Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore.

One of our long serving volunteers given a fitting send off

A long serving volunteer has been given a fitting send off after helping to make a difference for more than a decade.

Shockwave device helps treat chronic hip pain

The Physiotherapy team, which is part of the world-leading Hip Preservation Service at St Cross, has taken delivery of a Shockwave unit.

New deep freezer for Macular research team

Research at the Hospital of St.Cross has benefited through the kind donation of a -20 degree freezer.

Heather Green

It is with regret that the Friends of St cross report that Heather Green has sadly passed away.

The Mayor, Santa and lots of Festive Befrienders

We had lots of visitors to St Cross throughout December.

Another great Coventry BS donation

The Friends of St Cross has received another fantastic donation from Coventry Building Society, thanks to the support and generosity of its members.

Mayor hosts launch of Gala Concert ticket sales

Members of the Rugby Philharmonic Choir and the Jaguar Land Rover Band were invited to meet in the Mayor’s Parlour to announce plans for the Gala Proms Charity Concert which will be held at 7pm in the Temple Speech Room on the 23rd February.

No-one should be alone at Christmas

Could you spare a couple of hours to visit and cheer up someone at the Hospital of St Cross who will not be well enough to be discharged home before Christmas?

Local author donates books to Children's OutPatients

The team at Children’s Outpatients at the Hospital of St Cross were delighted to meet author Julia Fox and receive copies of her book Tim-Tim and the Sickly Monster.

FOCUS service success at St Cross

At the Friends AGM, the team, based in the Owen Building at St Cross, celebrated the first anniversary of the Friend’s committing to support the Flexible Outpatient Cystoscopy Urogynaecology Service (FOCUS).

Theatre service at St Cross expands

A new support donated to the surgical team at St Cross will help the service undertake even more procedures and improves the patient experience!

Friends help with therapy play in the Orchard Centre

Children with autistic spectrum disorders and complex needs are benefiting from the latest donation of Paediatric toys from the Friends of St Cross.

Knee replacement service supported by the Friends

A new support donated to the team who perform knee replacement surgery at St Cross will help the service undertake even more procedures and improves the patient experience!

Community Therapists offer a new service

Patients recovering from a stroke or brain injury can now benefit from specialist rehabilitation services at home thanks to a donation from the Friends of St Cross.

Coventry Building Society savers support the Friends

Thanks to the support and generosity of the many holders of savings accounts which support the Friends of St Cross, the Charity has received another massive donation from Coventry Building Society.

Indian Community brighten up a corridor

At the beginning of September 2017, members of the Hindu community approached the Friends of St Cross and offered to arrange for a team of some 25 volunteers to clean or paint an area of the hospital over the last weekend of the month.

More scopes for Hip Preservation service

Another world class service run predominantly at the Hospital of St Cross has benefited from a donation from the Friends of St Cross.

Murals brighten Oak and Mulberry Wards

Midlands based artist Lynne Hollingsworth has returned to the Hospital of St Cross to bring more colour into two wards at the hospital.

New mobility aids for Hoskyn Ward

Staff in Hoskyn Ward have been trying out new aids to help patients who are not steady on their feet to move around the ward.

Christmas 2017 at St Cross

The Friends were involved in lots of activity over the Festive Season at St Cross!

SPA Dinner Dance in aid of the Friends

Members of the Shree Prajapati Association held a Dinner Dance in aid of the Friends

No one should be alone at Christmas

Could you spare an hour or two over the Festive Season? - The Friends of St Cross and Age UK Warwickshire are launching a joint appeal for volunteers to visit and befriend patients in the Hospital of St Cross over the Festive Season.

New blooms for St Cross

An anonymous supporter constructed a 7 foot tall obelisk, which was kindly installed by Vinci Facilities, next to the entrance to the Friends Blood Taking Unit.

New hi-tech monitors helps diabetes patients at St Cross

Two new glucose level monitors, donated by the Friends of St Cross, are helping the team at the hospital to develop treatment plans for patients whose blood glucose levels fluctuate.

Local couple cycle the length of the UK in aid of the Friends

Steve and Carol Hamp set off on the 1st of September to cycle 1200 miles, unsupported on the national cycle network, from Lands End to John O’Groats.

Bingo fun at St Cross

Patients in the Ash Dialysis Unit at St Cross are now enjoying Bingo sessions thanks to one of the recent donations from the Friends of St Cross.

Gala Concert Success

Four Male Voice Choirs from Rugby, Coventry, Leamington and Northampton performed with the Jaguar Landrover Band and soloist Mel Cotton to raise the roof at the Temple Speech Room and to give Mike Minton a great send off as the retiring Musical Director of the Rugby Male Voice Choir.

Gala Proms Concert - let's raise the roof

Members of the Rugby Male Voice Choir and the City of Coventry Male Voice Choir and the Musical Director of the Jaguar Land Rover Band were invited to meet in the Mayor’s Parlour to announce plans for the Gala Proms Charity Concert.

New service for Women in Warwickshire

An exciting new service for the whole of Warwickshire was announced at the AGM of the Friends of St Cross on the 28th June 2017.

The Friends are helping transform Children's Outpatients

The Children's Outpatient Unit at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby is set to be transformed thanks to a major funding commitment from the Friends of St Cross and the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity.

Local knitters make Twiddlemuffs for patients at St Cross

Sarah Barker from the Knit and Natter group, who meet at St Peter and St John’s Church on Clifton Road, recently presented a collection of ‘twiddlemuffs’ to nurses at the Hospital of St Cross.

Hi-Lo beds make a difference for frail elderly patients

Many of the patients who undergo treatment at the Hospital of St Cross are frail and elderly and so have the potential to fall and injure themselves if they attempt to get out of bed unaided.

New trolley for Xray

Staff at the Hospital of St Cross have recently taken delivery of a special new trolley for use in the X-ray department.

Aids for patients with visual or hearing impairments

The nursing and occupational therapy teams at the Hospital of St Cross are seen with one of 5 kit boxes of aids for patients with visual or hearing impairments donated by the Friends.

Crocus planters return to admire the display!

Pupils from Bilton C of E Junior School returned to the hospital to see the bulbs they planted last October in full bloom and to plant a commemorative plaque!

Extra comfort for Diabetes patients

The Friends have recently donated 4 bariatric chairs and an extra examination couch for use by patients attending the Diabetes Centre at the Hospital of St Cross.

Santa and Friends raise over £5,000 for Sleep Studies Project

Just one month after announcing the Friends project for 2017 the Charity has already raised £5,750 towards the £80,000 target!!

Community support for the Sleep Studies project

Once again we have received tremendous support from all corners of the community such as this donation from the Kalyan Yoga Centre which was supplemented by personal donations from members of the Hindu Community in memory of relatives who had recently passed away.

The Friends Blood Taking Unit 1 year on!

Staff working at the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby have celebrated the first anniversary of the department.

Epilepsy Sleep monitors that make a real difference

Debra and Hyrum Platt recently came to the Orchard Centre to meet and tell Jenny Hammond, Community Children’s Nurse what a difference the monitor donated by the Friends has made to their lives.

Savers and Coventry Building Society combine to donate to the Friends

Thanks to the support and generosity of the many holders of savings accounts which support the Friends of St Cross, the Charity has received another massive donation from Coventry Building Society.

Sweet dreams: New service to come to St Cross

In 2017, the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby will be the first in Warwickshire to offer a new service for patients with sleep disorders.

Extra support for patients leaving St Cross

The Friends of St Cross have recently donated an Oxford Stand Aid for use by patients who have undergone Medical Rehabilitation in Oak Ward and are soon to be discharged home.

New treadmills for Cardiac Rehab

Patients undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation can now use upgraded treadmills as part of their exercise programme at the Hospital of St Cross.

Friends volunteers recognised again!

Several volunteers were nominated for an OSCA for the help they gave to the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme hub located at the Hospital.

Community plant crocuses to support Purple4Polio

Children from Bilton C of E Junior School teamed up with members of the Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore and the Friends of St Cross to plant 5,000 crocus corms at the Hospital in support of Rotary International’s Purple4Polio campaign.

Scanner for the Community

Community nurses based at the Orchard Centre recently took delivery of a portable bladder scanner which benefits some 1,000 patients in the Rugby area.

Tribute to Julie Gordon raises £2,000

Over 100 friends of the late Julie Gordon and supporters of the Friends of St Cross were joined by Councillor Sally Bragg, the Mayor of Rugby, to pay a special tribute to one of the stalwarts of the Charity.

Friends assist weigh in at Children’s Outpatients

The Friends of St Cross have donated a special set of scales for weighing babies attending the Children’s Outpatients Unit at the hospital.

Community Choir supports the Friends

The Hillmorton Community Choir entertained supporters of the Friends of St Cross at a cuppa and craft event.

Trip to the Black Country raises £413!

Thirty three volunteers and supporters braved some inclement weather to take part in a fascinating visit to the Black Country Living Museum.

More light is shed in the Friends Blood Taking Unit

The Friends have extended their support of the Friends Blood Taking Unit with the donation of a vein viewer.

Sleep Apnoea service expands

The Friends have donated a second piece of diagnostic equipment costing £5,000 that enables the expansion of a service for patients with some sleeping disorders to be delivered from the Hospital of St Cross.

Record fundraiser at the Summer Ball

The Friends of St Cross Summer Ball broke the fundraising records for the annual back tie event organised and hosted by Tracey Lennard and her great team.

RMVC Spring into song!

The Rugby Male Voice Choir Spring Concert held in May was an extremely enjoyable evening with a varied programme guaranteed which got the audience's feet tapping and singing.

Flowers fit for a Queen

On the 21st April Rugby’s Mayor attended a Flower Arranging Demonstration at Castle Farm, Woolscott.

Romna restaurant supports the Friends

40 supporters dined at the Romna Restaurant in Albert St and enjoyed an excellent meal laid on by restaurant owner Zahed Siddique and his team.

Friends help patient reminiscences

A new computer system which helps stimulate elderly patients has been donated by the Friends for use on Hoskyn Ward and in the Bluebell Lounge at the Hospital of St Cross.

Friends win Team of the Year at Pride of Rugby Awards

The Charity was overjoyed to have been nominated as finalists for both the Team of the Year and the Rugby’s Pride Awards at Coombe Abbey on Friday 6th May and then to go on and win the Team of the Year was the icing on the cake for a memorable two years.