On the 4th of September 2024, The Friends welcomed some 62 members and guests to the 69th Annual General Meeting to celebrate another year of outstanding support for the Hospital in Rugby.
The meeting was opened by our President, Willy Goldschmidt, who set out the agenda for the meeting which included 3 guest speakers.
Our first guest speaker was the Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Simon Ward, who said “It’s always nice seeing familiar and new faces and to hear about some of the amazing work that goes on in the community particularly when it comes to local charities and the incredible volunteers that really do make a difference. I was amazed to hear that The Friends of the Hospital of St Cross currently has over 170 volunteers who each play their part and go above and beyond.”
After giving the Mayor a vote of thanks for his kind words about the work of the Charity, Doug Jones, Chair of the Friends, proceeded to report on our activity since the last AGM. A copy of his speech can be read here.
Highlights of his talk were that:-
- Next year will be the Platinum Anniversary of the founding of The Friends which we will celebrate with an Appeal to raise £70,000
- The Trust has plans to increase the number of theatres and develop new wards at St cross and the charity is well placed to play its part in those changes.
- Recognition for the increased income from the fundraising activities of the Tea Bar and Ward Trolley teams as well as the Social Fundraising team
- Thanks for the
- money saved by Stephen Walshaw, our Purchasing Lead
- the work of our Service Co-ordinators who lead our great team of 170 volunteers
- Congratulations to the 11 volunteers and teams who have been nominated for an OSCA at the Trust’s Outstanding Service and Care Awards to be held in October.
- Receipt of a cheque for £500 from the Rugby Male Voice Choir which marks the start of the Platinum Appeal.
Doug then introduced Treasurer, Brian Cheney who summarised the highlights from the full report on this presentation.
Our next guest speaker was Professor Richard King, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UHCW Trust, who gave a presentation about the Rugby Ambulatory Orthopaedic Service that is now offered by the UHCW Trust at the Hospital of St Cross. This is recognised as the new gold standard for hip and knee replacement surgery which is undertaken as a day surgery activity with no planned overnight stay for the patients.
In particular, Professor King thanked the Friends for the donation of 10 theatre trolleys, costing £40,000, which are a key part in changing the mind set of patients and staff as it sends a message that the patient is not ill or needing to be “comfy” in a bed ready for an overnight stay. Patients expectations are managed in advance and there is a robust post operation follow up. The new service was a key element in St Cross being accredited as an elective Surgery Hub under the NHS Getting it Right First Time scheme.
The final guest speaker was Sue Noyes, Chair of the Board of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust, who spoke of her career in the NHS, her passion for gardening which she has started to extend to the grounds at UH. She thanked Doug for his time informing her about the work of the Charity and said that she looks forward to working closely with The Friends in the coming months and years.
Willy thanked Sue for her kind words and invited her to meet the Trustees at a future Board meeting and offered to introduce her to Steve Purcell, our Service Co-ordinator for gardening at St Cross.
The meeting closed after a presentation of Long Service Awards to Meryl Hunpries (left) and Pat Norcombe (centre) and a bouquet to Karen Tomlinson (right) who works tirelessly to support the Friends Board and the team of Service Co-ordinators who lead the team of over 170 volunteers.
The full formal report can be read here.
The Speakers pictured at the top of this article in clockwise order were Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Simon Ward. Sue Noyes, Chair of the UHCW NHS Trust, Professor Richard King, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UHCW Trust and Doug Jones, Chair of The Friends of St Cross