The League of Friends of
(Reg. Charity No: 1006416)
at
on
Present: Mr David Phillips (Chairman) and 26 members.
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Apologies were
received from Mrs Sue Souter, Mr Martin Harwood & Mr Frazer Hart |
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Minutes of the last Proposed by Mrs Jo
Williams and seconded by Mrs Ros Godden |
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Chairman’s
Report: 2008 proved to be
a very busy and rewarding year for the League of Friends of Fairford Hospital
when a number of new initiatives we had been working on for some time came to
fruition. Prospect Hospice In April we signed
an agreement with the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton near The results of the
agreement have been very encouraging with 35 patients from Lechlade and
Fairford practices being helped during the year to X-ray Equipment I am pleased to
report that the new X-ray equipment has now been installed here in a suite
refurbished by the PCT and was formally opened on 27th January. The facility is proving very popular and to
date there have been 212 X-rays undertaken.
The League has set aside £70,000 as its contribution to what we
believe is a much needed service. Nail Cutting Service During 2008 we
identified a need for a nail cutting service for patients who found this a
problem. A clinic was established in January run by Mrs Carol Musgrove and
the results have been encouraging with 80 patients requiring the
service. We are grateful to David
Chapman for representing the League in our negotiations with the PCT. Whilst setting up
these new initiatives we have not neglected our core services which continue
to be much needed and greatly valued. Home Nursing Service This important
work continues and Mrs Ros Hart will be giving a full report under the next
agenda item. Voluntary Car Service The work of the
VCS continues to grow – the total number of journeys in 2008 was 748 which is
an all time record. In the first 4
months of this year we have done 259 and so we can expect another busy
year. We have 51 Fairford drivers and
23 from Lechlade but we are always looking for more volunteers. Journeys to
Swindon have become easier as a result of the new road arrangements and
parking passes for the Hospital but on the other hand The Voluntary Car
Service is greatly appreciated by the patients – not only for the transport
but also for the company. In thanking the
drivers we also owe a great debt of gratitude to Val Harvey the Co-ordinator
and in her absence Jo Williams for all the work they do often having to find
drivers at short notice and at inconvenient times. I am sure it is a thankless task some
days. They are both here tonight and I
am sure they would be happy to discuss any aspect of the work at the
conclusion of the meeting. Physiotherapy For some years a
local Physiotherapy service has been provided through the Friends for
patients at Counselling The counselling
sessions continue at the Fairford Practice and cost the League over £10,000
in 2008. Thanks to the Edna Dawes
Bequest we have continued our counselling service commitment to Farmor’s
School. This cost us £5,000 last year
and we are glad to have an opportunity of assisting young people. Edna Dawes Lunch Club This continues to
meet at Drug Delivery The service of
drug delivery to some outlying villages has continued throughout the year and
is greatly welcomed by the elderly and housebound. First Responders Although little
financial support was requested during the year I am pleased to report that 2
Responders have been awarded the Chief Officer’s Commendation Award from the
Great Western Ambulance Service. Fundraising and Publicity Group In the autumn I
set up a Fundraising and Publicity Group designed to improve the profile of
the League and boost our reserves following our substantial investment in
Prospect Hospice and X-ray equipment.
This sub-group which I chair also consists of Martin Harwood, Alison
Ward of the Management Committee and Ruth Berridge who has been a long term
keen supporter of the League in Lechlade.
Our first task was to consider whether any changes needed to be made
to our annual House to House collection. Following our recommendation the
Management Committee decided to circulate a letter rather than a leaflet, a
card reminding all local residents of our services together with a standing
order form designed to boost regular giving.
The Sub-group will now be considering further ways and means of keeping
the name of the League and its services in the forefront of our supporters
‘minds. House to House The response to
our House to House appeal can only be described as magnificent. We raised £24,000 plus new standing orders
of £4,640 making a grand total in excess of £28,500. Excluding standing
orders this is an increase of more than £8,000 over the 2008 outturn and I
pay tribute to the generosity of all those who contributed. There is press coverage today giving a
figure of more than £30,000 being raised.
I would just remind the meeting that this includes possible Gift Aided
tax refunds which have not been included publicly in the past. Thus for the moment I prefer to talk in
terms of an £8,000 increase plus £4,640 of new standing orders some of which
may not come into force this year.
Furthermore the Treasurer will no doubt tell you shortly that we are
running a substantial, albeit expected, deficit this financial year. Clearly the House to House collection would
not have been so successful without the help of our co-ordinators and
collectors. I am proposing to
host a social gathering shortly which will give the Management Committee an
opportunity of thanking them all in person.
I would like to acknowledge the work of our Administrator, Julie Zarczynski,
in helping to bring about this excellent result. I have been asked to say how much the coordinator’s
and collectors appreciate being advised of the individual amounts collected
in their areas. I do take this
opportunity of saying a very big thank you to all the members of the League
of Friends and in particular to the many volunteers who help in so many ways,
nurses and physios to the members of the Management, Social Events and
Fundraising and Publicity Committees, our Administrator and to those who have
supported us financially. We are
indeed lucky to have so many generous people prepared to help their
community. I conclude with
some welcomes and special thanks.
Maureen Burton retired as Matron Manager of this Hospital in
November. She had to cope with loss of
beds, uncertainty about the future of the Hospital and the setting up of
outpatient clinics. She handled all
these problems with great efficiency without ever losing her enthusiasm. She was a good friend to the League and we
wish her well in her retirement. We
have welcomed Sharon Smith on to the Committee and she has already shown
herself to be a worthy successor. Margaret Pursch
has joined the Management Committee from the Social Events Committee. We welcome her as a supporter of and worker
for the League over a long period of time. Jo Williams
retires from the Management Committee tonight. She has been on the Committee for at least
10 years during which time she has had responsibilities ranging from drug
deliveries to our Physiotherapy and Voluntary Car Services. She has always shared her considerable
Health Service experience and we are greatly in her debt. She has offered to continue to assist the
League from outside the Committee and we are glad not to lose her abilities
completely. I would like to
thank our vice chairman, Dr Roger Johnson who deputises so ably during my
frequent absences. His medical
experience is invaluable to us all on the Management Committee. |
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Review of Activities: Home Nursing – Ros
Hart reported that the home nursing service is growing fast. The original
reason this service started was in order to back up the very good but limited
District Nursing Service. With beds in Fairford hospital many people had a
hospice on their doorstep, but even 13 years ago there was a strong move
towards enabling more people to die at home if they wished and when it was
possible. Without the hospital
we imagined that our role would increase but for many reasons it stayed the
same or even declined and they were concerns. So far the past two
years we have made hugh efforts to work more closely with the District Nurses
from whom we get all our referrals. There has been a big increase in
patients. For the past 14 months since the League contracted with Prospect
Hospice in Ros thanked Celia
Kennedy & Sally Salter for the wonderful work they do with such constant
grace and charm. Nothing seems to be too much trouble and we all work
extremely happily together. Thanks also went to the terrific team of carers
& nurses. Nothing seems to phase then and they always work when asked if
possible. A thank you also went to Dr Roger Johnson who continues to give
such wise and knowledgeable help and to Jim Barge without whom no one would
be insured, paid or now taxed! Celia Kennedy our Nursing Coordinator informed the meeting that referrals have rocketed with 56 so far this year. Last year there were less than 40. It’s averaging about 4 new referrals each month. There are 6 regular nurses with 2 occasional ones. They are very dedicated to the League of Friends. At present the nurses also caring for 5 long term patients and will continue to do so until the District Nurses are fully staffed. Celia thanked Ros Hart for all her hard work. It was suggested a letter of appreciation to the Nurses from the Chairman would be a good idea. Ros Hart would compile a list. The last year for the hospital has been one of re-establishing the links with Swindon & Marlborough NHS Foundation Trust. This has been with the help of Sue Dale, General Manager for the PCT Cotswold locality and Bobby Lang, Matron for Cirencester & Fairford. The Clinics are steadily
increasing with all patients attending providing a very positive feed back. The
highlight of the year was the commencement of the building works for the
x-ray department. This took 3 months and was finally officially handed over
and opened on The cost of the new x-ray department was met by all parties with the biggest input from the League of Friends. The League provided the money for the equipment; the PCT provided the capital for the re-building and Swindon NHS providing the radiographer services. With the opening of the x-ray services this gives the population of Fairford & Lechlade and the surrounding villages the opportunity to have a close to home service. This can benefit in many ways – those without transport can easily phone for an appointment following the GP consultation. The choice being closer to home plus the benefits of an appointment system helps all. The x-ray service will also benefit the GP’s and patients by having quicker access to the images. These once taken can be seen quickly by all. Arrangements are being put in place at the present time to ensure that if a patient has an x-ray at Fairford they can been seen at Cirencester Hospital, not only in Fairford & Swindon. This is something that should enable the patient greater choice than anywhere else in Gloucestershire. The out-patients clinics are also steadily increasing. There are now 3 ENT clinics per month, an audiology clinic held four times a month. The audiology service is at present down to 4-10 weeks. Following the GP referral the patient can have a hearing test and in most cases can have a hearing aid fitted on the same day. A great success story. During March & April new clinics have commenced – Gynae, Oral Surgery and a monthly extra General Surgery Clinic. There has also been added an extra Active Balance Group with nursing and Physiotherapy staff coming from Cirencester twice a week. The League of Friends toe cutting service has proved a success and this contract between the PCT and the League is about to be extended. Over 80 patients have been seen so far this year. A successful Mother & baby course is now being held and is run by the local health visitors. Also in the pipeline are a possible ‘leg ulcer’ clinic provide by the District Nurses and also Children’s Occupational Therapy assessments are to be held at the hospital. Senior Nurse Anne Speller retires on the 22nd May and everyone wishes her well in her retirement. Jayne Mallinson will be taking over the post. Dot Williams has been employed as a Senior Nurse and will cover both Cirencester & Fairford. The overall figures for out-patients in the last 12 months were that 1254 patients were seen and 150 clinics had been held. Fairford Surgery – Dr Graham
Wallis expressed the appreciation of the doctors, nurses, staff and patients
of the surgery for the help provided by the League of Friends. The League
plays an important part in serving the local community. Graham gave three
examples of people who recently have benefited from the services the League
has provided ·
A gentleman who had visited the surgery for a blood
pressure check also had problems with his feet. The nurse was able to explain
the Foot Care Service to him and subsequently he is now receiving treatment. ·
A sixteen year old young man has received counselling
through Farmor’s School. ·
An elderly lady required transport to Cirencester and was
greatly helped by the League of Friend’s drivers. She felt confident that she
would be looked after well. The Doctors were very pleased with the x-ray facility. Patients can
now requested the images on CD to take to The Chairman thanked the all the Doctors for there support of the
League. |
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Treasurer’s Report: The Chairman thanked Jim Barge for his hard work as Treasurer over the year, especially with handling the change over of banks due to the fact that the Leagues existing Bank, Lloyds had started charging for their services and also for dealing with the Inland Revenue who have requested a pay roll system be in place for paying & taxing the nurses & administrator. The League’s new bank is HSBC. The Treasurer distributed summarised accounts for 2008 (see attached) and explained that the Edna Dawes Bequest had been ring fenced for specific schemes as agreed with the Trustees
The total income for the year was £99,466. This was up on
the previous year because the League received £15,000 from the PCT for home
nursing and two large donations from a lady of £7500 for the General Fund
& £7500 for the Phyiso Fund. The
total expenditure was £68,807 with total funds available at the end of the
year of £499.873. The Treasurer informed the meeting that there will be a
deficit this year. He explained that when the beds used to be at the |
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The Chairman explained that members of the Management
Committee were by definition Management Trustees and had the associated legal
responsibilities for management of the charity. These responsibilities were not onerous but
nevertheless existed. The Constitution
requires a minimum of 10 and not more than 20 members of the Management Committee.
The Committee will select a Chairman at the first meeting in accordance with
the Constitution and David Phillips confirmed that he was happy to stand
again as Chairman if the Management Committee so wished. The Chairman paid tribute to Jo Williams who retires from the Management Committee and
thanked her for her contribution to the League of Friends in a variety of
ways over the years. Jo was presented with a gift of appreciation. |
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