“Rock of stability”: League of Friends AGM

The Ashford Hospital League of Friends have been praised as a “rock of stability”   whilst change is going on all around them.

The Chairman of the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust, Clive Thompson CBE paid tribute to the Friends when he addressed their Annual General Meeting held at Ashford Hospital on Thursday evening. (19-10-07) Earlier this autumn (September) the Friends opened a new refreshments bar and shop in the main entrance of the hospital which has been welcomed by visitors, staff and patients, said Mr Thompson.

There were two main speakers at the AGM.  The Trust’s Lead Microbiologist and Infection Control Consultant Dr Angela Shaw Infection Control for the ASPH Hospital Trust, who explained the various infections which are found  both in  the community and in all hospitals,  and what action is being taken to combat these.  She pointed out that Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals have an extremely good record in Infection Control compared with the national average and that our  MRSA bacteraemia rates are now one of the lowest in the South East

The meeting was also addressed to Amanda Wicks, a Clinical Operations Manager for the Walton and Staines branch of the South East Coast Ambulance Service, who gave details of the revising role of the Ambulance Service and the new instrumentation and training which is being used to aid patients. Her area covers 3,600 sq. miles of Kent, Surrey andSussex.  In its first year as the South East Coast Ambulance Service the organisation handled 485,771 calls. The talk included visual aids.

In addition, the meeting was addressed by Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Peter Wilkinson who is Honorary President of the League who paid tribute to Eric Molinari’s leadership of the Friends and the work of Vi Molinari, the honorary secretary. 

Said Dr Wilkinson: “The League of Friends do a wonderful job, lead from the helm by Eric with Vi’s support.  The Friends provide the human face of the hospital and our thanks go to everyone who gives of their time and energy throughout the year.”

The Hon. Chairman of the League, Eric Molinari, told the meeting that the role of the League had altered somewhat due to reconfigurations, etc. but, with the addition of the opening of the new Refreshment Bar in the Main Entrance of the Hospital to run in conjunction with their Atrium Restaurant services, the League was continuing to thrive.