THE Bishop of St Asaph has paid tribute to the work of the League of Friends at Deeside Community Hospital.

Bishop Gregory Cameron was invited to visit the hospital by the President of the League, his Lordship, the Right Honourable Barry Jones.

Bishop Gregory spent the morning on Friday, December 21, meeting staff, patients and members of the League who raise thousands of pounds every year to support the hospital.

Bishop Gregory said: “I was delighted to be invited by Lord Barry once again to visit staff, patients and friends at the hospital. I’ve visited the hospital every year since I became Bishop ten years ago. This is always the first engagement booked into my diary every year.

“This hospital provides local care and I thank all the staff and volunteers who bring comfort and joy to the patients and their families.”

The League of Friends, which has 75 members, has recently bought new endoscopes and chairs for the hospital and provides the funding for two hairdressers to work on the wards. The chair of the League of Friends, June Nixon, has raised hundreds of pounds for the hospital by making, icing and decorating 75 Christmas cakes. The final cake was raffled this morning in the presence of Bishop Gregory and Lord Barry. Mrs Nixon said: “The work of the friends is vital in helping patients feel better. Having your hair done every day may seem insignificant but it plays an important role in making your feel good. Funding hairdressers means patients can feel a little bit better and that all aids recovery.”

Deeside Hospital was opened in 1992 by Her Majesty the Queen and has 44 beds.

Lord Barry, the former MP for East Flintshire, which became Alyn and Deeside, has been President of the League of Friends for 19 years.

He told the friends: “This League is exemplary and among the leading organisations in England and Wales.”