Support a Local Charity That Supports Your Community
Friends of Stratford Hospital (FoSH) is a local charity first established in 1948 with the primary aim of raising funds to provide equipment and services that support the health and wellbeing of patients, their loved ones and the hospital staff.
FoSH work closely with hospital staff and South Warwickshire Foundation Trust (SWFT) to ensure fundraising priorities and charitable investment are strategically aligned, enabling funds to be directed where they will have the greatest impact on patient care and staff wellbeing.
The charity consists of a board of trustees, led by Chair, Ana Palenciano, an active committee of volunteers and fundraisers. The charity relies on and values voluntary assistance, donations, and other support to maximise its potential.
Our Patron is Emma Holman-West, a highly regarded and prominent figure in the local business community.
Friends of Stratford Hospital is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity number: 215843
A Brief History
The first Stratford Hospital opened in 1884 in an attractive Victorian building on Alcester Road. As demand for healthcare grew, the hospital expanded into the former Workhouse buildings on Arden Street. Following the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948, these facilities were gradually replaced with modern hospital buildings.
The League of Friends was established to support the hospital by raising funds for equipment, facilities and other enhancements that were not routinely funded by the NHS, improving the comfort and wellbeing of patients, their families and hospital staff.
A new, modern hospital building opened in 2017, enabling a number of services to return to Stratford-upon-Avon and making treatment more accessible for patients who were previously required to travel to Warwick. The new facility includes a state-of-the-art cancer treatment unit, an ophthalmology unit and a community wellbeing centre.
The League of Friends embraced this exciting development with renewed energy, launching a campaign to support the staff and patients of the new hospital.
More recently, an extension to the hospital was completed, and in 2025 a state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) opened. Part of a national programme to transform diagnostic services, the CDC provides a wide range of elective diagnostic tests closer to home, reducing the need for patients to travel to larger acute hospitals. The centre has significantly enhanced local radiology services by bringing MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray and mammography together under one roof. Equipped with the latest technology and thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming and reassuring atmosphere, the centre reflects a modern approach to patient care.
Whilst we remember fondly and respect the hard work and dedication of the previous members, in 2024 The
League of Friends board decided to change its name. Retaining the same principals and values, we are now simply known as Friends of Stratford Hospital or FoSH.
FoSH and its supporters are busier than ever as we strive to contribute meaningfully to the welfare of patients, their loved ones and the staff in an increasingly busy and ever-evolving Stratford Hospital.
