The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital Newsletter

The League of Friends
of Fairford Hospital

( Reg. Charity No: 1006416 )

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2006

FAIRFORD HOSPITAL. Consultants from Swindon & Marlborough NHS Trust have been running outpatient clinics at Fairford Hospital for the past two months. We are all keen to see them as well supported as possible. So if you currently attend one of the following outpatient clinics at Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon, Oxford or Cirencester Hospitals why not ask your Doctor if you can be referred to a clinic in Fairford?

• Cognitive – Nurse led	• Podiatry
• Dermatology	• Psychiatric
• Falls and Community Rehabilitation	• Rheumatology
• General Medical	• Surgery
• Physiotherapy	• Urology

OPTION 4 (possible new build)
Some good progress has been made since the spring newsletter. The go ahead has been given for negotiations to begin towards the development of a new medical facility in Fairford. The plan is to provide 10 intermediate care beds in addition to a nursing home, outpatients and other services for the community.

The League is now working with Shaw Healthcare, the private sector provider, to draw up more detailed plans and a business case to present to the new Gloucestershire PCT, CDC planners and the county highways authorities.

This great starting point has been reached primarily as a result of a big financial commitment by the League of Friends and the support of the local community but there is still a long way to go.

FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY

The League has continued to operate within the Community and our Friends in the Community activities remain a major part of our work. In fact we spend between £40,000 and £50,000 per year providing the following services.

HOME NURSING

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Some people wish to stay in their own homes when they are very ill, with close family or friends to look after them, helped by their G P and the District Nurse. If there is a need for extra nursing the League of Friends meets it.

The arrangement with the Physiotherapy Dept. of the PCT to provide a service based at Fairford Hospital is working well. The League is just renewing the contract for a further period and we do keep the service under regular review.

COUNSELLING

WELCOME HOME SCHEME

The League continues to provide financial support for counselling services through the Lechlade and Fairford surgeries. Patients are asked to make a donation with the League providing top up funding to meet the full costs.

The scheme aims to give initial support to patients recently discharged from hospital where there are no family members or neighbours able to help during the first few days.

VOLUNTEER CAR SERVICE

PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY

The volunteer drivers continue to provide a much valued service to patients from the Fairford and Lechlade practices who have no means of travelling to the surgeries or hospitals for their appointments. Our thanks are due to Mary Stephens for running the scheme and to the volunteers.

We continue to provide a free delivery service for patients in the outlying villages who find it difficult or impossible to get to chemists or the dispensary at Fairford Surgery.

EDNA DAWES BEQUEST
This was well attended and our thanks go to Canon Judith Mount, Ros Leigh, Rev. Brian Atkinson (our brand new vicar of St Mary’s) Dr Andrew Sabourin, Diana Lee-Browne and all those who worked so hard to provide excellent refreshments afterwards.

Lunch Club: The Lunch Club meets every Monday at Fairford Hospital and is now up to its maximum membership of 16.

Counselling: Since January we have provided additional finance for an existing counselling scheme at Farmors School. This makes a difference to the lives of individuals and supports students with a wide range of problems.

First Responders: This is a scheme to train volunteers to attend life threatening medical emergencies and give help to patients before an ambulance arrives.

The first training sessions are now finished with 10 people passing the exam. 6 sets of equipment have been ordered for Eastleach / Southrop, Kempsford / Welford, Fairford and Lechlade. This means that there will be a very strong team in the area before Christmas.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - CAN YOU HELP?
We are always looking for volunteers to support the Friends in the Community and the Edna Dawes Lunch Club. We also need help for the House to House collection next year. If you can spare time to help in either capacity please contact Gail Bloxham (details below)

THANK YOU
Whilst the loss of beds in Fairford Hospital earlier this year was a grievous blow to everyone in Fairford, Lechlade and the surrounding villages the important work of the League goes on.

In the circumstances we had an excellent House to House result in the spring and so a very big thank you to all the Friends for your generosity and support in many ways. If you would like more information or can offer to help with any of our activities or wish to make a donation a list of contacts is given below.

We are holding a
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
at FAIRFORD HOSPITAL
SATURDAY
2nd DECEMBER 2006
10 AM TO NOON

Yours sincerely,

David Phillips
Chairman

Chairman: David Phillips – 01285 850322
Treasurer: Jim Barge – 01367 580271
Co-ordinator: Gail Bloxham – 01285 850261
(General enquiries and offers of help)