Good Hope clinical education boost thanks to �1.8 million bequest

Good Hope Hospital will be able to significantly strengthen its clinical education programme thanks to a bequest made by a Four Oaks woman amounting to �1.8 million.

Margaret Hollier left her house and land to Good Hope Hospital in her will � on the proviso that the money should be used to support the training of doctors.

The sale of the land in Lichfield Road, in Four Oaks, has raised �1.8 million. The land has now been cleared and is being developed by Walton Homes.

Consultant Physician Dr John Milles, who is a member of a hospital committee set up to manage the fund created by the bequest, said: This was an incredibly generous donation.

It will do a great deal to support clinical education and training at Good Hope Hospital which will lead to real benefits for our patients. We are very grateful to Mrs Hollier for bequesting her estate in this way.

Margaret Hollier died in March 2002, aged 95. Her husband, Harry, died aged 93, in February 1993.

The hospital has already named its main lecture theatre the Harry Hollier Lecture Theatre. Some of the money has been used to improve the theatres presentation audio-visual equipment.

Today (Thursday 11) the hospital officially launched the first element of the improvement in clinical education generated by the donation.

The hospital has set up the Hollier Travelling Fellowship. Every year, junior doctors will give presentations on a project they wish to carry out to a panel of senior clinicians. The winner will receive �1,500 to help meet the cost of the training.

The first presentations were being given today.

Guest of honour at the event is Mrs Betty Firth, aged 79, from Four Oaks, a life-long friend of Harry and Margaret Hollier, who have no surviving relatives.

Betty, a retired nurse, said: Margaret had been in Good Hope Hospital a few times earlier in her life. She had even been in the hospital when it was just the house.

She was always impressed with the service she received and realised how important the hospital is to the local community. She wanted to support clinical education so the money would make a difference in the long-term and not just go into the NHS pot.

Most of the money remains unspent. Firm decisions have not been made on how it will be spent. Dr Milles said: With such a large amount of money we want to ensure it is spent wisely so it has the biggest possible impact and makes a long-term contribution to clinical education at the hospital.

Margaret was born at Blake Street Farm while Harry was born at Station Road, Wylde Green. They had lived in Sutton Coldfield all their lives.

Harry enjoyed good health all his life. They married in 1929 and initially lived in Clarence Road before moving to Lichfield Road during the 1930s.

From humble origins selling milk from a handcart, Harry became a successful businessman with his own car repair and hire company � and a property investment business.

Margarets only sister, Edna Holt, died at Good Hope in August 1990.

For more information, contact Andy Comber, Head of Communications, at Good Hope NHS Trust: 0121 378 2211 ext 1146, Mob: 07974 575104.

Source : Good Hope