Friends of St Cross celebrate another great year

The presentation to retiring chairperson Heather Green. L-R: Mike Rigby, Heather Green, Willy Goldschmidt and Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Sally Bragg. Photo by Eddie White.

Members of the Friends of St Cross looked back on a successful year at the charity's annual general meeting '“ and welcomed news of ongoing health developments at the hospital.

Speakers on the night, which was attended by the mayor Cllr Sally Bragg, made reference to ongoing developments in dementia care at St Cross and the plans NHS Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has for the town.

Debbie Harris, specialist mental health nurse, thanked the charity for its support in creating the Bluebell Lounge for dementia patients, as well as the recently reported donation of computer software, with staff reporting it has made a real difference.

Juliet Hancox of the CCG, also spoke of some projects that are in the pipeline.

In particular, the group is working with NHS England on the provision of a GP surgery in Brownsover and the future planning of GP surgeries bearing in mind the population expansion in Rugby.

David Eltringham, chief operating officer of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, was also in attendance.

He thanked the charity for its support over the last year and reported the new Friends Blood Taking Unit – which was backed by the Rugby Advertiser – continues to achieve high standards of service for large numbers of patients.

As the meeting drew to a close, retiring chairperson Heather Green was presented with a photograph showing members of the charity receiving the Queen’s Award in 2014.

Rita Holdsworth was also presented with a Life Membership certificate in recognition of her 15 years of service at the tea bar in Out-Patients Department.

For more information, visit: www.fsx.org.uk