Newsletter
Extracts from the September 2005 Newsletter
Hydro Active
Heidi Hart and Lindsey Travell, running the 5k Hydro Active Run on 4 September 2005 to raise funds for osteoporosis support.
Opening Words
This year seems to be whizzing by. The Quiz (a great success, Jeff) is a memory; the Sandringham Flower Show has gone by and now Autumn looms. Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall (our Society’s patron) was extremely sweet and kind, had a depth of knowledge about osteoporosis and, within the rules within which she works, will do her best to help us (in the King’s Lynn area) in our quest for better services.
The Annual General Meeting was reasonably well attended but I would prefer to see everyone there. How else can you influence what your committee does?
Further in these pages you will read of what is coming up and I hope you will come along and give your support and, as a by-product(!) enjoy yourselves.
From the Chairman, John Fludgate
Osteoporosis Update | June 2005
Award for us
Our President Peggy Spencer receiving an Awards for All Grant, from David and Sheila Johnson, Deputy Mayor and Mayoress. Click for a larger image (500 by 412 pixels). Picture courtesy of The Lynn News and Citizen.
Awards for All presentation
June is usually a month when the hall is full to capacity. Most members try to come to hear Dr Williams speak. This was a very good opportunity, the Committee thought, to ask the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of King’s Lynn to attend. We were very pleased, therefore, to welcome David and Sheila Johnson, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress, who at the beginning of the meeting presented our Award for All Grant certificate to Peggy Spencer, our President.
This Grant will allow the Group to continue with their programme of Roadshows, taking them to Wisbech, Downham Market, Swaffham and Burnham Market. It is easy to forget this is the King’s Lynn and District Group. These Roadshows will allow us to take information out to people living just too far from Lynn to be able to easily attend our meetings. The Grant covers publicity, venue hire, travel and subsistence. The Group intends in addition to offer some scanning opportunities, to maximise the benefit of the days. See below for more about these upcoming Roadshows.
Dr Norman Williams, Consultant Rheumatologist from the Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough
Dr Williams explained the difference between arthritis and osteoporosis. Arthritis can be wear and tear, inflammation or deformity of joints.
Osteoporosis is quite different, it is a skeletal disorder with compromised bone strength. Once you have had one fracture you are four times more likely to have another, and once you have had two fractures you are ten times more likely to have another. In scanning and treating the condition as soon as we can, this pattern of continuing fractures is what we are trying to correct.
Dr Norman Williams, our Medical Adviser
The new DEXA machine at the Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough can now scan in 20 seconds instead of 20 minutes, and that has meant the annual number of people seen has increased from 349 in 1996 when the service started to over 2000 in 2004. It is very easy for one of our West Norfolk GPs to refer to the service and appointments should be received in about 8 to 9 weeks. A full report and suggested treatment letter is then sent direct to the GP by Dr Williams.
Dr Williams also gave information about the new treatments available. For instance, Strontium Ranelate is now being prescribed at about the same cost as bisphosphonates for those who cannot tolerate Fosamax and Actonel because of a gut reaction.
He confirmed that obtaining Forsteo (aka Forteo), because of the high cost, was proving more difficult but not impossible.
As usual, Dr Williams answered many questions, which meant a long evening for him. Despite coming to us from the Peterborough area he would not accept a fee. We are very lucky to have him as our Medical Adviser.
AGM 2005
This was the ninth AGM. Les Finbow, Treasurer, reported an increase in our finances, due to hard work with our fundraising and increased membership.
Edith Finbow, Secretary, presented the Annual Report and reflected on the Group’s efforts to raise awareness over the year. Reports were given by Barbara Blacklock on the scanning days, Ros Harre on working with Brownies and plans to work with Primary Schools in the Autumn and Ken Eade on membership.
As Ros and Ken were unable to be present in person these were read for them. Our Chairman John Fludgate thanked all those who helped over the year, particularly highlighting the charm, wisdom and intellect of our President, Peggy Spencer, who works so hard for our cause
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The present Committee was re-elected en bloc with nobody being persuaded to join them.
The evening was rounded off with a talk given by Father Paul Kinsey on food (see below).
Roadshows (& Scanning Days)
Osteoporosis Roadshows
Wisbech
Saturday 24 September 2005
Downham Market
Saturday 29 October 2005
As promised, and following on from our Lottery Grant award in June, we have been swift in arranging more Osteoporosis Roadshows.
Wisbech
The next Roadshow is at the WI Hall, Wisbech:
Saturday 24 September 2005
WI Hall, Alexandra Road, Wisbech
10 AM to 2.30 PM.
See the Wisbech venue on a map.
Downham Market
The one following that is at the Town Hall, Downham Market:
Saturday 29 October 2005
Town Hall, Market Place, Downham Market
9.30 AM to 3.00 PM.
See the Downham Market venue on a map.
Full publicity will be going out shortly. If anybody has ideas for good places for posters please contact the Secretary. We want as many people as possible to attend these events to make good use of our Grant.
Scanning Days
Our latest Scanning Day held on 2 July 2005 at the St James Medical Practice, County Court Road, King’s Lynn was fully booked, as always. There’s a waiting list of people interested in attending the next Scanning Day, which will take place concurrently with our Osteoporosis Roadshow in September at Wisbech.
In fact, we now have sufficient names to fill the list in Wisbech, and several people already indicating they would like an appointment for the Downham Market Scanning Day.
Flora Light now Hydro Active
Fund-raising run
The girls on their way to Birmingham.
Lindsey Travell and Heidi Hart are looking for sponsorship. They are doing the 5k Hydro Active Run (formerly the Flora Light Run) in Birmingham on Sunday 4 September 2005 to raise funds for the NOS. Please contact us if you’d like to make a pledge.
Not only does the event have a new sponsor but, due to its ongoing success, it has more and more women taking part. This means that the girls are having to go to Birmingham to take part, as London’s entry list was full. There is also now a course at Liverpool.
Sandringham Flower Show
As you will probably have read National Osteoporosis Society President, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall asked to come to see our stand at Sandringham and spent some time talking to members of the Group and looking at the display concerning our work.
The Duchess also spoke to Tony Bennett asking about scanning (as did HRH Prince Charles). She was persuaded by our Barbara Blacklock that the calcium chews we had on show (thanks to Ellactiva) were beneficial, and took away a supply in her handbag. (These are available from Holland & Barrett).
As this was an unexpected detour from the usual parade around the marquees and stands, the press, radio and television were interested and featured a small mention of this. We were even interviewed by Vanity Fair, New York. Not sure whether that will bring us many new members, but you never know.
Commissioning
The Group is again endeavouring to complete a Full Systems Commissioning Form. We had started this about a year ago but the whole system had to be put on hold by the Primary Care Trust as there were no new funds available. We are being encouraged to try again and this time help is being offered by the Primary Care Trust Commissioning lead, Mark Weston.
At a recent meeting of voluntary organisations with Dr John Rees, Director of Public Health and Mark Weston, Head of Commissioning for the PCT, we were given the following timetable:
- 30 September 2005: Applications needed to be received by this date
- 1 November 2005: the Public scoring panel meets
- 8 November 2005: the Clinical panel meets
- 13 December2005: the plenary session, chaired by an independent, Margaret Tozer, meets
- 18th January 2006: the scored list with recommendations then goes forward to the PCT board at their public meeting
- April 2006: funding implemented.
The board has the right to change any given recommendations, but would be quite unlikely to do so.
Summary description of our proposal
Funding for a Care Pathway for those who have, or are at risk of having osteoporosis. This Pathway to lead from the Falls Assessment, to be managed by the Community Rehab Team to include:
- Osteoporosis Nurse able to use pDXA, to perform risk assessment and triage, working between community, hospital and nursing homes.
- Scanner — pDXA or full hip and spine DEXA (dual x-ray absorptiometry)
- GPs with Special Interest — Dr Heath and Dr Ahmad might be interested in taking the lead.
- One session a week consultant time at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn
- Controlled expenditure on drugs by working to an agreed formulary to manage inappropriate prescribing
- Leaflets and support telephone contact from the National Osteoporosis Society through the local Group.
Forthcoming Events & Plans
See our Diary Dates for more.
Funds raised
Morrison’s Collection | June 2005
Many thanks to everybody who stood to collect at Morrison’s Supermarket on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June. The Group really appreciates all the help given by our members and friends who come forward for these events. We raised £401 over the two days. Well worth doing.
Chairman’s At Home | June 2005
Another very successful event. Many thanks to John and Sally. It was a very hot day on Sunday 19 June. However, everybody enjoyed themselves and we raised £102.50.
The Annual Quiz | July 2005
The Quiz is our major fund-raising event of the year. Again this year we held this at the Duke’s Head Hotel. The management is always very helpful. This year they also entered a team — not the winning one — and they have assured us that if we hold the event regularly at the Duke’s Head we will not be charged again. A free venue is always a bonus we very much appreciate.
The shield this year was awarded to the team calling itself Amnesiacs, with a first prize of £50. The second and third prize winners kindly returned their winnings.
There were 32 teams, the profit on the night was £703.53 with £233 of that made on the raffle. Many thanks to all those who took part — the teams, the raffle prize givers, ticket buyers and organisers. Here’s looking forward to next year. Jeff Hoyle the Quizmaster certainly knows how to put together a good show. Mostly our thanks go to him.
Donation
We were very pleased to receive a donation of £150 from the West Norfolk Lawn Tennis Club. Each year the Club runs a charity tournament with a lunch that is held in Christine Johnson’s garden in North Runcton.
The amount raised was divided between two charities, and we were one of them. Christine and her mother are members of our Group. Many thanks Christine, both for the hard work and for putting our name forward.
Apologies
For all of those of you who hastened along to the Tuesday Market Place on 16 August 2005, we were not able to have our stall as originally planned. This had to be cancelled at the last minute due to ill health.
We will be having a stall on Tuesday 25 October 2005 at the same venue and hope to see you then. We are also planning to have a stall at a local Car Boot Sale but no definite arrangements have been made yet. Many thanks to everybody who brought goods for sale. These will not be wasted.
Other Recent Past Events We’ve Enjoyed…
Here is just a handful of events we’ve organised and enjoyed recently.
Lynn at the time of Horatio Nelson | May 2005
Dr Paul Richards spoke to the Group about Lynn at the time of Horatio Nelson (1758-1805).
Nelson, having been born at Burnham Thorpe would have known Lynn well and visited many times, particularly coming to the Town Hall for banquets. At that time because of a good harbour and so many rivers, Lynn was a busy and prosperous place. Money was generated by trade. Lynn was referred to in a diary of the time as a handsome town, of 2400 houses and 12000 people
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Nelson would have seen many of the buildings we see now. The Red Mount, St Margaret’s, St Nicholas and All Saints churches and the Town Hall were all well established.
Dr Richards always fascinates and holds spellbound his audience, as he reels off dates and information about local history. Peggy Spencer, when thanking him, also spoke of his work encouraging others to renovate and improve local historic buildings. At present the Red Mount and the Greyfriar’s Tower are being restored and there are discussions surrounding the possibility of erecting a Market Cross on the Tuesday Market Place in the same place as the Henry Bell Market Cross that was built in 1707.
Food | July 2005
The speaker for the evening was Father Paul Kinsey. He gave a very interesting talk on food and how the customs, traditions and our etiquette have developed over the centuries. This, with a short quiz to test our general knowledge on food, rounded off our AGM evening.
