Standby Volunteer Group: The Surgery, Cock Lane, Bradfield, Berks. RG7 6HR Tel: 01189 744 972
Annual Report 19th June 2008
In commencing this report, I would like to acknowledge the support and assistance of Robin Borthwick, and the Theale Medical Centre, in providing us with office accommodation over the years. This allows us to organise patients’ requests for transport by our available volunteer drivers.
This year it has been decided to do without an AGM due to a number of problems with drivers and office staff. It is, therefore, my intention to circulate this report to a wider audience of helpers and supporters.
We are consistently dealing with over 500 medical requests for transport to hospitals, clinics and surgeries etc. in our region. I cannot praise too much the efforts of the volunteer drivers, treasurer Val Kennedy and the support staff. However, I must give a warning that with the increased costs of fuels we must expect a minimum donation of at least £10 to take and return a patient to the Royal Berks and Newbury hospitals.
As to the question of driving after the age of 80, we take the view that our volunteer drivers will seek their doctors’ endorsement that they are able to drive and, if they were suffering a minor impediment, that they would refuse the request to be on the safe side.
Standby continues to receive generous financial support from the Bradfield, Theale and Holybrook Parish councils, together with magnificent support of the May Fayre Committee. We also get, from various friends, patients and supporters, donations of unused tokens. These are very welcome indeed. We are still awaiting an update on the parking permits for the Royal Berkshire Hospital. At the moment the current ones, issued in 2007, are still valid and the permits for Newbury hospital are ongoing so there is no problem.
A number of drivers have corporate disablement badges which enable them to take a patient as close as possible to the clinic they are attending.
TOKENS Dark red £1 tokens were available from April 1st 2008. Please note that the dark blue ones are still valid until June 30th and that these would be most acceptable as a donation to Standby. We can redeem them at the West Berkshire council offices.
Sadly, I must add that, Alison Beaumont who helped considerably in our office over the years died on 17th June after a stroke. We send our condolences to her family at this time.
Fred Syrett Chairman to Standby
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