SUPPORTER June 2018, Issue 68
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KIDDERMINSTER & WORCESTERSHIRE PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP SUPPORTER June 2018, Issue 68 REG. CHARITY NUMBER 1100718 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER. The Education Evening for all those who attended was a huge success. The response from all those who attended, and who had taken part in the evening, said it was for them a very worthwhile exercise. Thank you to Professor Joe Herbert for the specialised research on the subject of Testosterone. A number of members said, how they found the subject most fascinating and so well explained by the speaker. Recently, a number of the committee attended a meeting at Malvern. This was to explain to us, the new process of Transforming Cancer Services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. This is what is projected to be part of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP). Yet another of the re- organisation of the National Health Service. We all felt, yet another change, and how was this going to be implemented. In some ways we felt it was an exercise that had to be done to show that there had been involvement of the patient and carer. As the King Fund call it ‘Tokenism’ as directed by the NHS. The STP was first introduced in 2016 to bring together Social and Health Care, which many of you will remember was divided a number of years ago, much to the detriment of so many people. At that meeting there were four subjects to discuss in 40 minutes; they were Prevention and Screening, Referral and Diagnosis, Treatment, and Living with and beyond cancer. We were allocated ten minutes to discuss each subject. We all felt that this was a token exercise, and how could decisions be made in such a short time. So often this is the way to show they have been through a user involvement. This was nothing like the setting up of the Survivorship programme for Prostate Cancer in Worcestershire, when so many different views were taken in to consideration and all who took part in the discussions felt valued. This was directed by Mr Makar, our president, and Mary Symons who was then Clinical Nurse Specialist. We will keep you all up to date if there is any further developments in the Transforming Cancer Services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the contributions that this Support Group can give to further discussions in the future. The committee are always open to any comments, or feedback, that you may have with regards to any of our meetings in the Town Hall and any suggestions for meetings in the future. Paul Brothwell. 2 3 Mary’s Corner. I have lots to tell you for this Newsletter but I am writing this early because of a holiday we have booked in May. Firstly it was a good turnout for the last Town Hall meeting, and I do apologise if some of you could not hear properly. Joe Herbert spoke on the subject of testosterone and how it affects the human race and other animals. It was a light-hearted look at the subject but with some very interesting facts which were not generally known. All our talks are available on the new website so please check it out if you did not manage to catch everything that was said at the Town Hall. Jean Garner from Macmillan came to talk about her focus groups to be run in the Wyre Forest area in early May. I hope we get some feedback from attendees and from Macmillan at some time, as this can all have a positive effect on how patients with cancer are having their say on future care. The meeting at Pershore Civic Centre in March was extremely amusing and educational with Dr. Laurence Trueman discussing diet and nutrition. I think the big outcome of such talks is that we need a staple diet but should eat in moderation and we can all debate with the expert on the subject of what is good or bad for us. Certainly I was impressed with how Laurence got the message across, so much, that I have booked him to speak to us in the Town Hall at our July meeting, please come, and I promise you will not get bored. Before this we have the South Worcestershire meeting at the Civic Centre in June, and the information about this is on the calendar of events. We are also having a Facilitators meeting just after on Saturday 16th June, and we are very keen to sign up some Facilitators to take on this role for the south of the county and perhaps a couple for the Wyre Forest Area so we can reduce some lists. We provide lots of support and the chance to attend a training course run by Macmillan. It is not too time consuming, we generally suggest you ring round your list about 6 monthly, some of your list will tell you not to bother and others are very grateful to receive the calls. Please attend the meeting in the League of Friends Coffee Shop, at Kidderminster Hospital, if you feel you can offer your services or ring myself or Derek Scully. John Poole, ex Committee member and one of the founders of the group, who worked with me to set it up, has arranged the golf day on Friday 3rd August. Details in the Newsletter with a form to fill out if you can get a team together, please support this event, it will be the first time it has been run by Cleobury continued on page 5 4 Golf Club for us. We are extremely grateful to Sapey Golf Club for all the years that they ran the Golf Tournament for us, it was always a pleasure to attend. The data protection information has gone out to all our members, it is important that you return the signed paperwork to us so that you can remain on our database. Unfortunately, if you do not return it we have to remove your details and you will no longer receive our Newsletter and any other communication we send to our members. Regards to you all Mary NEED HELP OR ADVICE? - PLEASE CONTACT US The Committee 2017 Chairman Paul Brothwell Secretary Mary Symons 01299 823495 01299 823166 Treasurer Paul Marka1l Facilitator/Co-ordinator 01562 751355 Derek Scully 01886 833236 [email protected] Fed Rep David Underhill Minute Secretary 07817 518201 Val Markall Trustees Dick Herbert 01562 751355 Derek Wood South Worcs Rep 01299 823619 Gordon Kingston Publicity/ Richard Langley 01386 462253 Website 07861 233930 Co-opted Mag. Editor Fund Brian Wilkes John Mills Raising 01905 773353 [email protected] £75,000,000 Theresa May announces a government investment of £75 million into resarch focused on getting men diagnosed earlier and faster - the biggest investment in prostate cancer research we’ve seen, and we want to spread the word. The news comes after months of media focus on prostate cancer that kicked off when it was announced that prostate cancer is now the a bigger killer than breast cancer. Keeping the disease in the public eye must have helped. 5 6 South Worcestershire Prostate Cancer Support Group They say that time folly of getting in the way of rivers and flies, whoever they the sea. are, and it is time for Like everyone else involved with another contribution prostate cancer support, I’ve been there to the Supporter and got the T shirt. So, it’s a big thank Stephen Branchett magazine from the you to the following, Paul Rajjayabun, South Worcestershire group. Our who diagnosed my condition, chairman, Gordon Kingston, Adel Makar, who carried out my normally does this but he has passed prostatectomy, and Lisa Capaldi, for the baton to me on this occasion. my later radiotherapy. Without you So, who is ‘me’? Well, my name is guys and your staff I wouldn’t be here. Stephen Branchett, I am the honorary And finally a thought. Why, when treasurer of the group and I’m the record amounts are being invested in one missing from the photo of the the NHS, are Trusts running up deficits committee on page 7 of the last issue and having to make cuts to their of the Supporter. services? Having watched the recent To call me the treasurer is a bit of a series Hospital on BBC2, I believe it’s misnomer, more correctly I am the because the method of funding Trusts keeper of the group’s small change, is out of touch with reality. Instead of all surplus monies being paid into payment by results, which means that the main bank account. Last year it income drops when some services was some £364 and the year before can’t be provided because of a greater some £870, reflecting some successful call on other services, as we have just fundraising that particular year. I seen this winter, shouldn’t Trusts have am a retired chartered engineer who annual budgets to fund their services, spent all his working life in the public with the management left to do just sector dealing with flooding, trying to that, manage? minimise the effect of nature on man’s Quarterly,Meetings If any member, wife or partner would like to attend our meetings and is a non-driver or does not like to drive at that time of day, then we can arrange for a taxi and pay for it to transport you to and from the meeting. All you need to do is telephone Mary Symons on: 01299 823166 ...and we will make all the necessary arrangements for you. 7 GOLF TOURNAMENT As many of you will know, last years’ golf tournament was cancelled due to the sale of Sapey Golf Club where it had been held for many years for the support group.