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Axminster Hospital League of Friends
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
held on
Tuesday 25th July 2023, 6.30 pm in Axminster Heritage Centre
Opening remarks
from the Chair
Steve Holt welcomed all and thanked everyone for attending.
Steve Holt welcomed the guest speaker, Dr Rachel Wachsmuth,
Consultant Dermatologist, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust and her colleague Claire Parkinson who provides a
dermatology surgery list at Axminster Hospital.
Steve Holt handed over to the Guest Speaker.
Guest Speaker –
Dr Rachel
Wachsmuth,
Consultant
Dermatologist
Rachel Wachsmuth gave an interesting and informative talk about
skin. She explained the structure of our skin, pointing out various
elements within the dermis and epidermis. She went on to talk about
skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and the new biologic
treatments which were having a significant effect on outcomes.
Rachel talked about the various skin blemishes, moles and skin
cancers which can occur, and what to look out for. She reminded the
meeting of the A to E of self-examination: A (Asymmetrical); B
(Border); C (Colour); D (Diameter): E (Evolving).
In view of the high incidence of skin cancers in the South West
population, Rachel emphasised the need for strong protection
against skin damage, even on a dull day.
Rachel emphasised the Dermatology Outpatient clinics at Axminster
Hospital were very busy seeing between 50 and 90 patients at
fortnightly clinics and that 8 to 10 surgical procedures are carried out
weekly.
The talk was greatly appreciated by the attendees. Rachel asked for
questions from the floor.
Questions from the
Floor
A question was asked about SPF ratings on suncream. Rachel
explained that SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and refers to the
level of protection against UVB radiation which is linked to skin
cancer. The number refers to the amount of protection the
sunscreen offers compared to unprotected skin. The higher the
number the more protection provided. However, these numbers
were based on adding a thick layer of cream protection. A 4- or 5-
star rating helps to protect skin from UVA radiation, associated with
skin ageing. She recommended products that gave the widest range
of protection.
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A question was asked about the effect of tattoos on the skin. Rachel
replied that tattoos can cause skin infections and other complications
such as allergic reactions. Large tattoos can make assessment of skin
more difficult. Rachel added that even after tattoos are removed
from the skin the chemicals can remain in the body.
A question was asked about why cricketers wear stripes of
sunscreen. Rachel replied that it was to protect the most vulnerable
parts of the face, on the nose, cheeks and lips.
Steve Holt thanked Dr Wachsmuth for her interesting and
informative talk.
Apologies for
Absence
Apologies had been received from:
Trustees
Margaret Pike, Ann Veit, Lynda Porter
Members
Karen Hussey, Keith Dean, Bill Sheppard, Chris & Hilary Sutton,
Maggie Stead, Mrs B Edwards, Mr and Mrs Groves, Mrs Eyre
Minutes of the
previous AGM
The minutes of the previous AGM held on Thursday 26th May 2022
had been distributed to the Trustees and were available to view on
the website. The minutes were agreed as a true record.
Matters Arising There were no matters arising.
Reports
Chair – Steve Holt
Steve thanked Rachel and her team for their support in enlightening
us about our skin. He acknowledged that Rachel and Claire had given
their time to support us.
Steve thanked the Trustees for their continued support and officially
welcomed Julian Hussey who joined the Trustees last Autumn.
The League of Friends continue to support the hospital and have
responded to their requests for both medical equipment and other
support to patients and visitors. One major spend was for a “Hover
Jack”. This is an air-operated bed system that allow a patient that is
on the floor to be rolled onto the jack and then raised using an air
pump to bed height where they are then transferred to a proper bed.
In addition, the League has helped to improve the refreshment
offering for visitors and staff by contracting for a snack vending
service along with the coffee machine we already provide.
Whilst we have made some significant changes to review our future
fundraising, we have continued with our local drive and have been
supported by both our Trustees and residents. Our annual autumn
bacon butties in the Minster Church rooms event was met with
somewhat inclement weather. Despite this, we raised over £200. At
the end of June this year, Hilary and Michael Pritchard from
Smallridge in All Saints, opened their garden with all the proceeds
from the refreshment coming to the League. Thank you to Sue who
provided all the cakes free of charge. This event raised £2,057. We
cannot thank Michael and Hilary enough. On Saturday July 1st, our
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Trustee Gillie George arranged for the Exeter Male Voice Choir to
come and sing to us in the minster, raising a further £430. These are
magnificent amounts which really do help in our continued support
to the hospital and local health needs of Axminster residents.
Steve reported that we must accept that there is still no end-of-life
care facility in the Axminster area. Our previous attempt to engage
such a service fell on stony ground. There are services for end-of-life
home support in Sidmouth and Seaton and we would dearly like to
be able to support one in Axminster. The cost to run such a service
is around £200,000 per year. Driving towards this level of income is
now our “Big Goal.” Whilst we need to continue with all our
fundraising efforts, to enable us to secure continued income of this
magnitude, we need to think and behave differently. Prior to this
year, we have run everything as a group of Trustees – all volunteers.
Seaton’s League has, for some years, employed a manager to look
after their day-to-day activities and fundraising drives. Steve had
had a meeting with the Chair of Seaton League of Friends last year
and following that meeting proposed to the board of trustees that
we look to employ someone to focus on all our fundraising activities
and look to other opportunities with our “Big Goal” in mind. In April
this year Helen Arnold started working with the League to look at
how we can achieve this Big Goal.
Manager – Helen
Arnold
Helen Arnold was appointed as Manager in April 2023. The purpose
of her role is to raise the profile of the Axminster Hospital League of
Friends and to increase fundraising to £200k per year.
Trustees
There are currently 12 Trustees Steve Holt - Chair, Lynda Porter –
Treasurer, Martin Diplock, Gillie George, Hazel Cross, Julian Hussey,
Margaret Pike, Jeanette Ward, Dr Phil Taylor, Dr Sarah Ellis, Ann Veit,
Mervyn Symes.
Due to family circumstances Lynda feels she is not able to continue
with her role as Treasurer so we will be looking for someone to take
on this role. Steve Holt will cover this role until a new Trustee is
appointed. Expressions of interest from anyone interested in
becoming a Trustee are always welcome. Please speak to Steve or
myself.
Membership
Thanks to Gillie and Hazel for helping to update the List of Members.
170 invitations to this meeting were sent out to Members of the
League of Friends. Since the last meeting several of our Members
have moved and sadly, I have been notified that a number of our
Members have passed away. Members have been asked, where
possible, to provide an email address for correspondence to minimise
costs.
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Raising the profile of the League of Friends.
The League of Friends has a new Facebook page. There are 42
followers and over 3000 people saw our post about the Open
Gardens. We have a new website axmlof.com. Thanks to Adrian from
Pink Pigeon for support in this process. The website automatically
updates with news items and viewers can donate a single or regular
amount on- line. Information about meetings with the associated
agenda and minutes, fundraising events etc will be uploaded onto the
website. Members were asked to look at the website from time to
time.
Fundraising.
During recent months we have had 3 significant events. The
Axe Vale Show 17/18th June. Thank you to the Trustees and
volunteers who helped on the stand. Regular attendees to the show
reported that there was a reduction in visitors however donations
and raffle tickets at the show covered costs. It was felt it was worth
attending to have a League of Friends presence at a significant local
event.
On the first weekend in July, we had the Open Garden at Socks
Orchard, Smallridge. Although the weather was a little challenging at
times, the tea and cake proved very popular and Hilary and Michael
Pritchard kindly donated a little over £2000 to the League of Friends.
We also had a performance by Exeter Male voice Choir at the
Minster. Thanks to Gillie and Hazel for organising this event.
Although numbers attending were a little disappointing it was an
enjoyable evening and the choir have said they are happy to do
another performance later in the year. The concert raised £300 from
ticket sales and raffle. We also received £126 in donations.
Moving forwards.
Helen will be looking at developing the Facebook page to take
donations and to increase the number of people who are following
the page. She will look at the use of other social media platforms and
some additions to the website.
Helen will be investigating the availability of other funding through
businesses and charitable organisations. The League of Friends will
be organising some fundraising events over the autumn/ winter. In
the longer term, Helen will be exploring other opportunities such as
opening a shop in the town centre.
Treasurer – in the
absence of Lynda
Porter the
Treasurer’s report
was given by Steve
Holt.
Steve outlined the financial position and made a plea to all present
regarding the need for a new Honorary Treasurer. Lynda Porter
recently joined Trustees as the Hon. Treasurer. She came with many
years of financial experience and we were excited about her taking
control. Unfortunately, due to a change in her personal circumstance
and she feels that she cannot give the necessary time to support the
League. Steve thanked Lynda for the work she has done to date and
wished her and her husband all good fortune for the future. So, we
are looking for a new trustee who would be willing to take on the
role of Treasurer. It is not too onerous a task if someone has a few
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hours a month to spare. We will advertise the vacancy on social
media and elsewhere but if you know of anyone or would like to
come forward, please let our Manager know.
We have our audited accounts from Westcotts which show very
little in terms of transactions for 2022/23. We have, as previously
stated, spent a few thousand on facilities for the hospital but with
our Big Goal in mind, are mindful of our need to retain funds. Our
income for 2022/23 was £12,900 with expenditure of £5,903
leaving a year-end balance of £474,975. For information, our current
bank balance is £475,800.
At this point Steve asked for approval from all members present for
the continued use of Westcotts for the compilation and auditing of
our accounts.
The Members present at the meeting showed their approval with a
show of hands.
Hospital
Representative –
Teresa Denning
Helen Ruse, Therapy Manager
Community Rehabilitation Team (CRT)
As a team Community Rehab have continued to provide urgent
community response and rehabilitation interventions to support
patients within the Axminster area despite staffing and recruitment
issues thanks to flexibility of staff and close and creative working
with the wider community teams to support each other and patients.
Following the pandemic, they have been able to refocus and
continue to build on their work of falls prevention and health
promotion. They have been able to step back up their strength and
balance group which has run since the beginning of the year and
after a short break will recommence in September, providing regular
group therapy sessions at the hospital to focus on strength and
balance and falls prevention. This has been really well attended and
received.
Recent purchase of a hover jack has added to the hospitals range of
specialist lifting equipment. Community therapy key trainers have
provided training sessions on its use within the team as well as
extending this to wider community teams including community
nursing, Urgent Care Response and hospice. They are better able to
support individuals who have fallen in the community, helping to
keep those who can remain at home; in turn supporting the
ambulance service. As well as assisting terminally ill patients to be
carefully and compassionately moved on to a hospital bed for end-
of-life care with minimal upheaval.
Lisa Jones, Ward Sister
Day Surgery/Theatre
The transformation team are looking at referrals to Axminster for
ophthalmic procedures. There is currently a social media drive
advertising that patient’s may be seen quicker at Axminster, and they
are looking at other ways to advertise the Axminster service.
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We have capacity to do cataract surgery all day Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Once a month one of
these lists is used by Miss Irvine for oculoplastic procedures.
There will be a new Team Lead for theatre and ophthalmic
outpatients, Becky Armitage, and she will be taking up her post
during August.
Clare Parkinson continues to provide a dermatology surgery list on
Tuesdays in Axminster.
Michaela Board, Team Lead
Community Nursing
Community Nursing are a small busy team based at the hospital.
Michaela has rejoined the team as Team Lead, after an 18-month
break. The team is made up of experienced nurses and band 4’s and
they regularly have student nurses working alongside them as
placements. The team look after a variety of people, with varying
degrees of health care needs. These include wound care, injections,
venepuncture, continence problems, picc lines, end of life care,
syringe drivers as well as supporting family members. They support
the lower limb therapy service in the hospital, as well as taking
referrals from the Royal Devon Hospital, GP’s, and hospice nurses.
It is truly an honour to look after people in their own homes, when
sometimes they are at their most vulnerable. The team attend regular
training updates to ensure that they have the most up to date clinical
knowledge and skills. As a team they work very closely with the local
GP practice to support all the local people that are house bound for
whatever reason.
The nurses visit people from Axminster, Hawkchurch, Chardstock,
Stockland, Yarcombe, Membury, Uplyme, Lyme Regis, Colyton,
Musbury and even over the border into Somerset. So, as you can
imagine, they spend a great deal of time driving from one visit to
another in all winds and weathers. Trying to avoid potholes!!!!!
The team is amazing, they love their jobs and would not change a
thing!
Shiobhan Pickering, Dementia Matron
Axe Valley Dementia Team
The Axe Valley Dementia Team are now fully operational in our local
communities again, incorporating the Dementia Matron and those
from the Conybeare day care team. There are Cognitive Stimulation
Groups running in Axminster, Colyton and Seaton. This reduces the
stress of the travelling to and from the centre itself. The team have
had really positive feedback from those that attend and the families
since starting in April 2022. Saying things like, "I always look forward
to the group and have great fun." And from one of the families, "He
always comes back in a great mood and he sleeps well that night and
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is good the next day also." The sessions are 2.5 hours long which is
long enough for anyone with dementia.
The team also take referrals for home assessment and support. Even
though they are a small team they work effectively at ensuring
people in our communities with dementia stay independent as much
as possible, stay in their own homes, support the families and
promote healthy wellbeing for the whole family.
The team also prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and expedite
safe discharges of those people with dementia in hospitals.
Following up and using their expertise in supporting people living
with dementia.
Lisa Jackson, Outpatient Manager
Outpatients
Axminster Hospital continues to be a thriving Outpatient centre. We
have created an Ophthalmology hub, which continues to deliver both
general outpatient and procedural work Monday to Friday.
These clinics run alongside a variety of other Consultant and AHP
(Associated Health Professional) clinics e.g.: Rheumatology/Oral
Surgery/Retinal Screening/Bladder & Bowel – to name but a few.
We now have a total of 38 clinics running in Axminster.
We are constantly reviewing our clinics to ensure that we are
meeting the needs of the local population to reduce unnecessary
journeys to the main Acute site.
Our Eastern Community Hospital locations provide essential easy
access for both our local and Eastern wide patients. This allows
attendance to those Services which do not need to be held in the
Acute Hospital for specialist/complex or diagnostic reasons.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust aims to reduce patient
travel as one of our Carbon Emission reduction Targets within our
Green Plan and is one of our considered contributary factors when
considering new clinics.
Zoe Swan, Team lead
MSK/Physiotherapy
We are successfully running back fit classes alongside Activation
groups to help patients recover and then be referred into community
leisure services. We have very good links with all the current
activities that are carried out in the community including the
Flamingo pool.
We have new staff allocated working on waiting lists and are
currently keeping to designated times for the urgent and routine
patients. We are very privileged to have advanced practitioners
specialising in lower limb, shoulder and spines to refer to Axminster
when necessary.
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Teresa finished by saying how proud she is to work with such hard
working, committed and compassionate staff. All the services above
value the efforts of our Hotel Services and Administration teams –
without them, none of the above would be possible. She added that
the staff are very proud to be part of Axminster Hospital and would
like to sincerely thank the League of Friends for their ongoing
support and commitment.
Election of Officers As the longest serving Trustees, Martin Diplock, Mervyn Symes,
Hazel Cross and Gillie George were asked to stand down. In the
absence of other expressions of interest in becoming a Trustee,
Martin Diplock, Mervyn Symes, Hazel Cross and Gillie George were
duly re- elected. This was approved by a show of hands from the
Members present at the meeting.
Steve asked for expressions of interest in becoming a Trustee
particularly the role of Treasurer.
Questions from the
Floor
A question was asked regarding a possible Summer Fair. Steve
acknowledged that this had been a popular event in the past and the
league may consider a similar event in the future.
A question was asked about the Scott Rowe building. Steve
confirmed that the site had been purchased and the new owner had
stated that the site would be used for community or charitable use. It
was not going to redeveloped for housing.
A question was asked about whether it was possible to have a list of
services provided by the Hospital. It was agreed this would be useful
and could be available at several locations around Axminster.
Steve closed the meeting by thanking everyone for their attendance
and asked all to help themselves to refreshments and to a ‘goody
bag’ kindly provided by Rachel Wachsmuth and the Dermatology
team.
