NEWSLETTER June 2015 - NHS Retirement Fellowship for East

Issue 26
June 2015
NHS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP
EAST SURREY BRANCH
NEWSLETTER
In this issue:
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Branch AGM
Foundation NHS Trusts
Lorna Challis’s
memories of her career
Forthcoming events
Members’ news
Left: Members enjoying a sunny coffee
morning at Denbies Wine Estate in
Dorking on May 27th
From Joan Robinson, Branch Chair
From the Editor, Janet Lambley
This month I’m using my letter to tell you about three
important developments from the National Council Meeting
that I attended on May 21st.
Summer is coming and this newsletter lists a busy programme to
enjoy over the next few months, thanks to outings organisers
Deanne Beaver and Bob Eden.
After much discussion the Council agreed that the annual
capitation fee sent to Head Office for every member should
increase from £5 to £10. This is because Health Education
England has reduced its grant to the
Fellowship by 25%. Every other
funding body has demanded the
Fellowship becomes more selfsufficient and increases its national
subscription to a level comparable to
similar organisations. Although not
good, this could have been twice as
bad as our Director had suggested a
rise to £20. All the Regional
Representatives (myself included)
fought this earnestly on behalf of all
branch members.
Also in this newsletter, Lorna Challis looks back over her career in
administration which started at Cane Hill Hospital in Coulsdon,
one of the psychiatric hospitals serving London’s population long
before the NHS existed. We are fortunate to also have among our
members Pam Buttrey, author of ‘The
Tower on the Hill – Cane Hill
Hospital’, the subject of Pam’s talk at
our meeting next March. Lorna’s
reminiscences and Pam’s book are
reminders of the stigma attached to
mental illness, somewhat less now than
in the past but still significant. The lack
of resources for treating and caring for
people with mental illness is nothing
new, as Pam’s book makes clear.
Nevertheless, the old institutions could
provide vulnerable people with communities where they could be
safe and occupied, something that isn’t always achieved today.
The Council debated a new draft constitution. Constitutions
must be written to meet the requirements of the Charity
Commission so legal advice has been sought on the exact
wording.
The structure of National Council will be changed - more details
following the National AGM and Conference in July when all
three developments will be presented for approval.
Our time at work included periods of rapid change in approaches
to healthcare and administration. If you have experiences that
you would like to share in a future newsletter, please get in touch.
My contact details are on page 2.
Deanne Beaver describes a recent Branch outing
On March 18th, 16 members made their way to The Harlequin Theatre in Redhill for a matinee performance of “When You’re
Smiling”. This Neil Sands Production was another delightful trip down memory lane - some members joined us at Christmas for
“Remember When”. We sang along to songs from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s made famous by Doris Day, Tommy Steele, Elvis
Presley and Neil Diamond. The show culminated with a tribute to the 70th Anniversary of V.E. Day. We waved Union Jacks and
joined in with nostalgic songs from that period. According to the programme, Neil Sands first found fame in the 60’s and 70’s as a
professional wrestler and was seen on Saturday afternoon TV wrestling Jackie Pallo or Giant Haystacks. Thank goodness he decided
to retire from sport and start appearing in the feel good shows he now produces!
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Lorna Challis looks back on a satisfying career in health service administration
When Lorna Challis did well in the London County Council
exams when she was leaving school, she thought she’d be offered
a post at County Hall. She was disappointed with her job offer at
Cane Hill Hospital, the psychiatric hospital in Coulsdon, where
she lived. ‘I thought what would my friends think? We believed
everyone there was mad! My mother said “Never mind Lorna.
Try it for a month or two and if you really don’t like it, you can
always look for another job”. Little did either of us know I’d stay
there for 33 years!’
‘Queen Sylvia’ who believed she was royalty.
She recalls: ‘When Princess Marina visited
the hospital, “Queen Sylvia” approached her
and introduced herself by saying “I’m
Queen Sylvia”. The Princess replied “How
nice to meet you,” so the encounter the
organisers didn’t want went smoothly after
all.’
When the hospital was taken over by
Bromley Health Authority in 1973, Lorna
was appointed Personnel and Training
Officer, responsible for staff recruitment and training. However,
after six years, she moved on to become the Committee Clerk for
South East Thames Regional Health Authority. She travelled
throughout South East London and Kent taking minutes at all the
management committees, covering every medical speciality from
general surgery to psychiatry, from radiology to rheumatology. She
resigned when the Authority’s HQ was moving out of London and
got a job as secretary to the Advertising Manager of Argus Press – a
complete change of organisation. However, Lorna notes that every
organisation has its prima donnas!
Reflecting on her time working at Cane Hill, Lorna says: ‘I enjoyed
every minute. I learned to be patient, understanding and tolerant of
people’s quirks. I had a good career and feel I contributed to
helping some very vulnerable people who were entitled to interest,
care and concern.’ No doubt Lorna’s experiences as a teenager
evacuated during the war from Coulsdon to Tyldesley, a mining
town near Wigan, enabled her to accept and then enjoy working at
the hospital where she didn’t want to go. But that’s another story!
Image of Cane Hill Hospital courtesy of the Museum of Croydon
While at Cane Hill, Lorna worked in administration, starting as a
shorthand typist. She has happy memories of her time there and
the interesting patients she met. There was the young man who
gave her potted plants, which her boss said she should ‘accept
gracefully’ and the professional cellist who insisted on a car to
take him to play in a hospital concert. Lorna also remembers
Branch Annual General Meeting April 14th
The AGM on April 14th was attended by 38 members and two visitors and by the Branch Honorary President,
Michael Wilson, CEO of Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH). Two Committee members, Sheila
Harle and Pat Samels resigned from the Committee. Joan Robinson thanked them on behalf of the Branch for
all their hard work and contributions during their time on the Committee. Joan herself will continue as Branch
Chair for another year. John Jordan volunteered to join the Committee.
Michael Wilson talked to members about the challenges currently facing SASH and all other NHS Trusts as a
result of the ageing population and lack of resources especially to care for people who need to be discharged
from hospital. He also reported on the SASH’s progress towards becoming a foundation trust later this year
and encouraged Branch members to become foundation trust members. Michael answered members’ questions
and there was a lively conversation about the nature of nurse and care assistant training.
Right: Michael Wilson, CEO of SASH
What is a Foundation NHS Trust?
Foundation trusts are less accountable to central government
than ordinary NHS trusts but more accountable to local people
who can be trust members and have a say in local health service
development. SASH has exceeded its goal to recruit 9000 trust
members with 10,200 members and more joining. Michael
Wilson said ‘It’s fantastic to know we have the support of the
people in the communities we serve. What is really important is
that our members are already sharing their views at focus groups
and events’. Becoming a trust member is free; members can
decide how much to be involved from just receiving newsletters
to standing for election as a trust governor. To find out about
joining the trust, go to www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk or email
[email protected]
Forthcoming events:
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Picnic in Priory Park Tuesday June 23rd at 12:30. Bring your
own picnic and chair.
Visit to the Poppy Factory on July 14th (fully booked).
Evening performance of Les Miserables at the Harlequin,
Redhill Friday August 7th at 19:30, cost £11.
Lunch at The Beehive, Dovers Green Road, Reigate on Tuesday
September 15th at 12:30.
Brick Lane Music Hall matinee ‘Sunday Night at the London
Palladium’ with tea in the interval on Tuesday October 6th, £35.
New Year lunch at Reigate Manor Hotel on January 12th 2016
Cost: non – members £19, cost to members to be confirmed.
Members’ News
Welcome to new members Thia Bunyan, Chris Deakin, John Jordan, Evelyn Olney, Frances Jackson, Rose Pandya. The Branch now has
74 members.
Branch meetings are at 10:00 on
the second Tuesday each month
at Reigate Baptist Church
www.nhsrf-eastsurrey.org.uk
Editor: Janet Lambley
[email protected]
07710 268467
Welfare officer: Angela Saitch
01737 242869
Outings organiser: Deanne Beaver
01737 769488