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Friends of Dene Barton Community Hospital N0.19 July 2015

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“Taunton’s  Community  Hospital”  

Our AGM Report Our AGM was held at the Hospital on 30th June 2015 and the Chairman’s report sumarised below outlined our activities during the past year. “Over the past year the Friends have continued their work against a backdrop of major changes at the hospital. The Som-erset Partnership issued a draft document re Care in the Community and Safer Staffing that indicated a reduction in beds at Dene Barton from 39 to just 14. I will have more to say about this later. In September Debbie Criddle MBE our local Para-Olympian officially opened the Quiet Room. The event was well supported by Friends, Parish Councilors and Staff. It was a friendly and fitting end to all the hard work raising money for the project.

Autumn Fayre -The fayre raised £514, not quite as good as the previous year but enjoyable for all those who took part. Our thanks to our old friends the Silver Tone Trio who provide “music while you shop” We provided new Christmas decorations for the rooms etc. but unfortunately the carol service had to be can-celled at the last minute due to sickness on the ward. The Parish Council once again gave us a grant of £400 and we are indebted to their continued support. In addition we received £177 from

Waitrose and £280 from the Bird in Hand. We are also expecting support from Asda. Storing items for our fete was becoming a problem. Our grateful thanks to Power Electrics who delivered and positioned

a storage unit free of charge. The Coffee morning in April raised £192 and was en-hanced once more by the Bishops Lydeard Ladies Choir. The event continues to receive support, no doubt attracted by the wonderful array of cakes on offer. The Trustees now meet with other Somerset LoF twice a year, an opportunity to see how others are

managing. We are indebted to Susan Hutchings who once again undertook the flower planting alongside the entrance to the hospital, our thanks to Willowbrook Nurseries for their generosity in discounting the plants we purchased. Undoubtedly the biggest event of the year was the reopening of Lydeard Ward which now has the Neuro Rehabilitation Ward from Musgrove Park Hospital, it’s great to see the hospital full again. Over the past year, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group have been working with stakeholders to develop a new vi-sion for community services. The model of service aims to place the emphasis upon preventing unnecessary admission to hospital, particularly for the county’s frail elderly and people with long term conditions, through providing more care and support in their own homes. The Leagues of Friends have been involved in the discussions and our Trustees have attended several meetings where we have had the opportunity to put our point of view. The way we work may change when the final stage of the review is complete and it is likely we would need to consider if our work should encompass the Com-munity. One thing the Trustees and members are clear about is our commitment to Dene Barton Community Hospital and its patients, which is our primary concern. And finally, it seems the Friends are spreading their message around the globe. We have received communications, via our web site, from Northampton, Canada and Australia. We are happy to provide a link to the hospital for those who are unable to visit relatives.” Allan Sutton Chairman

NEWSLETTER