A special event has been held to mark the formal opening of a new café at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital.

Along with the Guild of Friends and Redruth Charity Trust, matron Sue Greenwood led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 28.

She said: “Camborne Redruth is one of the Trust's busiest community hospitals, so I am beyond thrilled that this much sought-after facility is now open. Our visitors, patients, and colleagues now have somewhere to grab a hot drink or refreshments, which is just lovely.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Camborne Redruth site has been without food and drink provisions.

Since then, hotel services at the hospital ran a sandwich trolley for staff. Although it could not provide hot drinks, it prompted momentum to reinstate the café in a new location, central to the whole building.

The Guild of Friends stepped forward to fund the café and refurbish an area to make it into a central hub. Redruth Charity Trust provided essential items for the café.

Julie Williams, business support advisor, said: "The café has been 12 months in the making. It has been a lengthy process. We are incredibly thankful to the Guild for funding this much needed space. NHS Property Services and the Trust estates team led the design and installation of worktops, cupboards, and such.”

Café 75 is fully stocked with hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, soups and snacks for visitors and staff to purchase and enjoy.

Margaret Schwarz, chair of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am delighted that a café is opening at Camborne Redruth Community Hospital. I know this has been a service sorely needed at the hospital site. The café will not only serve our patients and visitors but also provide a much-needed rest and informal meeting space for our colleagues to enjoy. I wish the café much success.”

The name 'Café 75; is a nod to the 75th anniversary of the hospital's Guild of Friends, who were instrumental to bringing the café to life. There was also a competition held for staff to design a new logo. Stroke specialist nurse Aimee Emmett won the competition. A glass-stained plaque of the logo is now hung outside of the café to commemorate the opening.

The café runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays from 10am to 2pm, but the team are calling for volunteers to help the café stay open for longer.

Christine Pascoe, volunteer coordinating manager of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is staffed by a team of loyal volunteers. However, we need more people to come forward to help in the café and so that we can extend the opening hours.

"We plan to expand the opening hours and are looking for people to cover morning and afternoon slots. If you enjoy meeting people in a busy environment and can volunteer on a regular basis, we would be pleased to hear from members of the public."

Those who wish to volunteer can visit: www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/volunteer, call Christine on 01726 873 252 or email the trust's volunteers team at [email protected]

Rowan Mulliss, Chair of the Guild of Friends said: "The cafe is very important to the hospital and the hospital is very important to the community. What we want to do now is make the public aware of how important this hospital is to the community.

“Every person in the community knows somebody who comes here. People know the importance of this place. Our biggest issue at the moment is feet on the ground. We don't have a big committee. What we are trying to do now is have a relaunch and get the community to understand what we do.

“We have committed £11,000 to the hospital this year and have committed to another £23,000. It's really nice to be here today and makes it all worthwhile with the work we do."

Chris Hailey, chair of Redruth Charity Trust added: "We are delighted to be here today because the hospital means so much in the community. Links to the community, we all have them. My partner's dad was an ambulance man. My partner's mum worked on the switchboard for 20 years.

“I have a daughter who is working in this department today. My partner's dad was here last year, and my aunty and uncle. So we're all intrinsically linked to this facility. This facility is so important to the community.

“We don't know when we will need it but what we do know is when we need it, it will be here. That's the most important thing."