The 2007 Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals Summer Ball has raised £4,000 towards a new diabetes resource centre for patients.    Over 240 people attended the Ball, held at the end of July at Wentworth, which was organised by the junior doctors committee at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Support for the event was provided by Wentworth who provided the venue free of charge and principal sponsors The BMI Runnymede Hospital and Grundon Waste Management, who both work closely with Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust.

“The Ball was a fantastic ‘end of year’ event for the junior doctors at the Trust,” said Joel Newman, outgoing Mess President at St. Peter’s.   “The difficulties with the Medical Training Assessment Service (MTAS) made the last year quite difficult for junior doctors so it was good to leave Ashford and St. Peter’s on a high note and to raise a significant contribution towards the new diabetes resource centre which is to be built on the St. Peter’s Hospital site.”

The ‘black tie’ event started with a drinks reception, followed by a three course meal.   After the raffle had been drawn by the Trust Chairman’s wife, Mrs Joan Thompson, dancing to ‘The Mary’s Band’ and DJ ‘Nkrypted’ followed late into the night.

Dr Newman continued: “In addition to the sale of tickets for the event we are grateful to all the companies and individuals who donated prizes for the raffle which on its own raised £1,700.     Money is still coming in from the sale of photographs by Instant Pix (www.instantpix.co.uk) and we expect the total amount raised for the new diabetes resource centre to be around £4,000.   I am grateful to everyone who supported the evening and particularly to the Ball Committee who helped to organise the event and sell the tickets.”

The Ball Committee comprised:

·         Dr Rhian Williams – originally from Cardiff, Wales and worked in the Respiratory Teams Respiratory Team at Ashford and St. Peter’s – now working in the Gastroenterology Team at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings; 

·          Dr Stuart Cleland – originally from Sheffield and worked in the Elderly Care Team at Ashford and St. Peter’s - now working for the Renal team at St. Heliers Hospital, Sutton;

·          Dr Geeta Aggarwal –originally from Birmingham and worked in general medicine at Ashford and St. Peter’s – now working at Frimley Park Hospital;

·          Dr Susan Ferrier – worked at Ashford and St. Peter’s in upper gastro-intestinal surgery.

·          Dr Joel Newman – originally from Rugby, Warwickshire and worked in Elderly care at Ashford and St. Peter’s - now working in Haematology at Eastbourne Hospital.

Praising the event, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Human Resources at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust, Paul Bentley, said: “All those involved in the event, especially the Trust Ball committee, did a fantastic job.   It took just 9 weeks to organise and was a great way for everyone across all areas of the Trust to relax whilst raising money for a good cause.   It is several years since we have had a Trust Ball but the 2007 Trust Ball Committee have set a ‘gold standard’ for future years.”

Further information about the new diabetes centre to be built on the St. Peter’s hospital site can be found at www.stephaniemarks.org.uk.