The Voice of PLC 1012

8/8/2019 The Voice of PLC 1012

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The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC)

In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support

Registered Charity Number: 273635

A Member ofThe Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC)

Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon,

Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

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FOREWORD BY THE CHAIRWritten by Edward (Ted) BURNETT

Dear Friends & Supporters,

Welcome to the December 2010 edition of our

Newsletter!

I should just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a

Happy , Healthy New Year!

Yours sincerely,

Ted & Liz

GENERAL INFORMATION

Written by Geoffrey (Geoff) N. READ

ALENDAR OF EVENTS. A copy of the Clubs Calendar of

Events for the next 12 months or so is available on our

website and Geoff (our Secretary) intends to give a brief

forecast in each edition of our newsletter.

INANCE.All the necessary figures are available for scrutinyby Club Members who are at liberty to contact the

Treasurer at any time should they have a query.

RIENDS. Friends are guests who are not necessarily

Laryngectomees but who support the Club and its aims insome way. Friends are every bit Club Members except that

they have no right to vote at our meetings.

EETINGS. Club Members meet on the first Monday of

each calendar month, usually at 11 a.m. The venue will

usually alternate between the Mustard Tree at Derriford

Hospital one month, and an outside location the next. Please

keep watching this newsletter and our website for current

details.

EMBERS. The Club is open to anyone who has

undergone a Laryngectomy and their partners. All

known Laryngectomees in the wider-Plymouth area have

been contacted and invited to join our merry band. There

is an application form on our website. Alternatively,

please contact Geoff whose details are at the top of this

newsletter.

EWSLETTER. Geoff is the Editor of this Newsletter

and his contact details are shown at the top of this

page. Geoff will be relying on you all to provide him with

articles, reports and newsworthy items to make this

Newsletter interesting. So... do please start sending him

your contributions! Contributions can be submitted at any

time and we intend to publish each Newsletter as soon as

possible after each monthly meeting.

GREETINGS!

Compiled by Geoffrey (Geoff) N. READ

APPY BIRTHDAY to the following Club Members:

Tuesday, 4th

January: Dave EDWARDS

Monday, 17th

January: Liz BURNETT

Thursday, 31st

January: Graeme OGSTON

Best wishes to each of you on your Special Day!

C

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/http://plymouthlc.webs.com/mailto:[email protected]


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Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read at 0774581928 (text only)

or email: [email protected], or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITORCompiled by Geoffrey (Geoff) N. READ

From: Colin Salter (Speak Easy Club Cornwall)

To: Geoffrey READ

Sent: Sat, 16 October, 2010 18:02:58

Subject: Re: THE PLYMOUTH LARYNGECTOMY CLUB NEWSLETTER:

OCTOBER 2010

Congratulations on No 1 Issue!

Colin.

INGLE BELLS. The politically-correct version!

Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh,

Over fields we go laughing all the way.

A Risk Assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is

considered safe for members

of the public to ride.

The Risk Assessment should

also consider whether the use

on only one horse in

appropriate particularly if

passengers are of larger

proportions.

Permission from landowners

must be gained before

entering any Open Fields.

To avoid offending those not participating in the venture, it

is required that only moderate laughter is used and not at

a noise level likely to be of nuisance to others.

OUR DECEMBER 2010 MEETINGWritten by Geoffrey (Geoff) N. READ

UR December 2010 Meeting took place at the China

House in Plymouth on Monday, 6th December 2010

and was also our Annual Christmas Dinner. Photographs

were taken so it is hoped to include one or two in our

future editions.

Attendance. Seven of our Members attended and,

although Sue S. didnt stay to dine, she did pop in to wish

everyone a Merry Christmas! How very kind of her! We

received apologies from a further five Members.

Raffle. No money was raised on the raffle at our December

2010 Meeting as the Members present decided the Raffle

should be free for Christmas! Geoff organised the Raffle

and Ted & Liz won the top prize of a Basket of Fresh Fruit.

Those two will be organising the January 2011 Raffle.

Committee Meeting. Ted announced that the Committee

would have a meeting in January 2011 at a date, time and

place yet to be announced.

THE TREASURERS REPORTWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

ONTHLY REPORT. At theNovember 2010 Meeting, Jean

reported that the Clubs accounts were

currently in credit and that our only

known expenditure was the Annual

Membership fee of 40 due to NALC in

March 2011. We almost have enough

to cover that!

REASURER. Jean has now retired

from the post of Secretary and a

new Secretary will need to be elected at

the January 2011 Meeting.

THE SECRETARYS REPORTWritten by Geoffrey (Geoff) N. READ

IAISON WITH OTHER CLUBS. It was suggested at the

November 2010 Meeting that Geoff should send an

invitation to the SpeakEasy Club and to the South Devon

Laryngectomee Club to invite them to one of our future

gatherings. Geoff sent letters of invitation, together with

an outline programme for 2011 on Friday, 10th

December

2010.

EMBERS & FRIENDS. Our current MembershipStatus is shown in the table below.

POSTAL EMAIL TOTAL

Confirmed Members: 5 10 15

Confirmed Friends: 5 10 15

TOTALS: 10 20 30

At a recent PLC Meeting, Julia, our Speech & Language

Therapist said she would try to contact those

Laryngectomees in the Plymouth Postcode area that had

not taken up our invitation to become a Member. Its

hoped that Julias efforts might increase our membership.

PEAKEASY CLUB CORNWALL. Geoff received a copy of

the SpeakEasy Clubs Newsletter on Friday, 26th

November 2010 and relayed it on to all those on-line. ClubMembers not on line should contact Geoff for a copy.

J

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FORECAST OF EVENTSWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

ANUARY 2011

Monday, 3rd

: New Years Holiday.

THIS IS A BANK HOLIDAY so this meeting has been rescheduled

to the second Monday of the month: Monday, 10th

January

2011.

This is also the last day for giving names to the Secretary for

the Jack Rabbit Meal following the Club Meeting on Monday,

10th

January 2011.

Monday, 10th

:

Club Meeting at the Mustard Tree followed by

Lunch at the Jack Rabbit.

Including a Talk & PowerPoint Presentation by Mrs. Christine

REID of Devon & Cornwall Refugee Support (assisted by Mr.

Geoffrey N. READ).

Names of those wishing to attend should be submitted to the

Secretary by not later than Monday, 3rd

January 2011.

Monday, 24th

: Geoff will send out an Agenda for the February

2011 Meeting. If you havent received a copy before the

February Meeting date then do please get in touch with him!

Monday, 31st

: Last day for giving names to Geoff for the meal

at the Hyde Park Hotel and the BBC Tour on Monday, 7th

February 2011.

EBRUARY 2011

Monday, 7th

: Lunch at the Hyde Park Hotel followed by a

Tour of the BBC South West Studios, Plymouth.

Ms. Janet HOPKINSON at BBC South West will be hosting a

maximum of 15 of our Club Members taking one of their

Tours* between 1 and 2 p.m.

We need to arrive at the Studios by not later than 12.45 p.m.

Geoff has yet to book the Hyde Park Hotel.

It will be on a first-come first-served basis so please submit

your names to Geoff for the Lunch and the Tour by not later

than Monday, 31st

January 2011!

Geoff is to submit a list of the names of those attending to

Janet by not later than Monday, 31st

January 2011.

Note: BBC Tours are timed to take place around our lunchtime news

bulletin.

From their Conference Room you'll be able to watch the live headlines and

promotions into the 1 p.m. news and then the bulletin, taking in the

rehearsals too.

Following the programme we take a walk through the newsroom to the TV

production gallery and studio, returning via the radio studios.

ARCH 2011.

Monday, 7th

: Club Meeting at the Mustard Tree followed

by a meal at the Jack Rabbit.

Including a Talk by Ms. Denise MARTIN, the Macmillan

Benefits Advisor at the Mustard Tree.

NEWS & GOSSIPWritten by Geoffrey N. read

ISGUST' OVER CLOSURE OF COFFEE SHOP AT

DERRIFORD. This article was published in The Herald

on Saturday, 13th, November 2010:

A COFFEE shop in Derriford Hospital run by charity volunteers is

closing to make way for a new pharmacy.The outpatients department cafe is the last one run by WRVS at

the hospital after three others were taken over by a private firm

earlier this year.The national charity ran four tea bars in Derriford for a number

of years.While a volunteer described the proposed closure as "disgusting" and

charity representatives said it is "disappointing", hospital bosses said they

aim to find a new location for the WRVS on site. Lesley DARKE, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Deputy Chief Operating

Officer, said the proposed pharmacy would make collecting prescriptions

easier for patients and staff.She said: "As the main users will be outpatients, it is necessary for the

pharmacy to have external access and be located at the heart of the

Outpatient Department. Regretfully the most appropriate and only

suitable space is that currently occupied by the WRVS Coffee Shop." She said the hospital has been in discussion with the WRVS for some time

on alternative arrangements to retain the charity's presence and

volunteers on the site.Ms. DARKE said: "We recognise both the importance of the WRVS and the

excellent work and dedication their volunteers give to the Trust and our

patients."We wish to take this opportunity to once again reiterate our continuing

commitment to working in partnership with WRVS and to formally thank

all those volunteers who have dedicated so much time and effort into the

cafe over the years."An anonymous WRVS volunteer at the Outpatients Cafe, said: "Were

disgusted, absolutely horrified, really upset."People used to leave the outpatients department after receiving bad

news. They used to sit down and have a chat. The volunteers here are

really, really friendly."We do also raise money for the hospital."Stephen HARGREAVES, South

West WRVS Head of Service, said

the charity is disappointed to

confirm the closure of the cafe.He continued: "However, were

looking forward to continuing to

work with Plymouth Hospitals

NHS Trust, and were in the

process of discussing what

happens next with the

volunteers working at the

hospital, and identifying other

volunteering opportunities in the

local area."He also thanked volunteers forproviding a "highly valuable

service for those who used it".WRVS is a national charity which

offers a range of services to help and support older people.Its other three cafes at Derriford were taken over by contractor Serco

following a hospital review requested the WRVS carry out upgrades. Financial restrictions resulted in the charity being unable to fund such

refurbishments, leaving it no choice but to vacate 3 of the 4 tea bars. The hospital is looking to identify a new area within the outpatients for a

cafe and has not determined how it would be managed.

More about the WRVS:http://www.wrvs.org.uk/

J

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http://www.wrvs.org.uk/http://www.wrvs.org.uk/http://www.wrvs.org.uk/http://www.wrvs.org.uk/


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EALTH CARE IN THE CITY. The Plymouth Third Sector

Consortium, of which our Club is a member, held a

meeting on Tuesday, 23rd

November with Paul O'SULLIVAN and

Sharon PALSER from the Primary Care Trust regarding changes

to Health Services in the City. PTSC Members who attended also

had the opportunity to give feedback and ask questions. PTSC

will be holding a meeting in the New year to further explore

future options and discuss the consultation on the soon to be

published public Health White Paper.

For those who were unable to attend, Geoff sent a copy of thepresentation to everyone by email on Tuesday, 30th

November

2010. Those not on email should contact Geoff directly should

they require a copy.

TOMA CARE. Ive been advised that for medical reasons,

not all Laryngectomees receive the same style of care. It

might therefore be misleading to continue with this three-part

article. Only medical articles recommended by Julie or

Maggie will be included in our Newsletter in future.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTWritten by Geoffrey N. READ

Our grateful thanks to The Devonport Regeneration

Community (DRC) Partnership for their assistance in

reproducing copies of this Newsletter.

H

S

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy , Healthy New Year!

from

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

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The Voice of PLC 1012