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Tony at Number 10
Written by Communications Team   
 
For almost 30 years Tony Humes has been sending out-of-date and obsolete material and disposable items of NHS stock to developing countries.    He has been supported in this work by colleagues at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals and his wife Carol, who is a Health Care Assistant here, together with local people.     Now Tony’s work has been recognised with an invitation to Number 10, the Prime Ministers residence in London.

The visit took place during the celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of the NHS on Wednesday 2nd July and Tony, who was nominated by Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust said: “I had a most enjoyable time and shook hands with Mr Brown.  He thanked me for coming to No 10 and for all my hard work.  Later in his speech he praised all who work in the Health Service for their dedication and hard work.”

 

The evening reception commenced with a short speech by the Right Hon Alan Johnson Secretary of State for Health, who then introduced Lord Ari Darzi.  He spoke about the future of Health Care and his NHS Next Stage Review which was published on Monday 30th June.   Then Lesley Garrett, the opera singer, sang a song.

Tony continues: “I was most impressed by the fact that so many of the rooms at No 10 were open for the visitors to just wander around and that we were able to visit the Cabinet meeting room.   It was an honour to have been chosen to represent the Trust.”

 

Tony’s collection of equipment is one of several ways in which Trust staff support developing countries.   Equipment has been sent to Poland, Moldova, Croatia, Albania, Kosova, Serbia, Nepal, Liberia, Romania, Tanzania, Kenya, Myanmar (Burma) Pakistan, the Lebanon and Egypt.    Theatre Information Manager Tony, who works at both Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals, has been able to ensure through very close contact with every organisation receiving this assistance that the items get to the correct destination and are put to good use.  He said: “I believe that all NHS staff should be given the opportunity to become involved with helping the developing countries to improve their ability to provide good health care for the population of each country.”

Tony continued:  “I have worked with the Laarbruch Romanian Organisation for a number of years and have been out to BaiaMare on three convoys, helping with all aspects of the trip.  I also commission all the medical equipment and then teach the local staff how to use it.”

 

 

Other projects that Trust staff are involved in include:

 

·          the Hashim Welfare Hospital in rural Pakistan (www.hashimwelfare.org.uk) - the Trust has a formal affiliation with theHashim Welfare Hospital and is supporting the development of hospital services for the rural poor; and

 

·          the Sudan Water Grant for Incapacitated Areas (www.suwgia.com) – which is raising money to fund the building of wells to provide clean water in rural areas of the Sudan.