Heatherwood Hospital 1987

£7.5M Health Care Bonanza

Hospital Cash Boost May Bring Jobs To Thames Valley By Wendy Fuller
The Thames Valley looks set to get a multi million pound package of vital improvements in health care.
And the £7.5 million package for the Oxford Regional Health Authority, which includes Berkshire and Oxfordshire, could lead to 200 new jobs in the coming year.
The budget includes new unit for mentally ill patients at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
And together with a new unit at Wexham Park, Slough, the package could lead to £945,000 being spent on the mentally ill in East Berkshire.
The plans for 1987/88, which are to be discussed on Friday, are based on cautious forecasts made midway through last year, and in line with the Government's announcement of a 6.3 per cent increase for the region, including pay and price rises.
Among the main projects which may go ahead in East and West Berkshire will be: A call and recall system for cervical cancer screening:
Increases in senior hospital medical staff;
A new mental handicap centre in Bracknell;
£100,000 support for the new secure units at Fair Mile and Borocourt Hospitals;
£105,000 for continued expansion of health promotion and preventive medicine;
A new home for mentally handicapped children to allow them to leave Townlands Hospital, Henley: Four new geriatric wards will be completed at Battle Hospital, Reading, and an additional consultant appointed.
£300,000 for cardiothoracic services.
Overall, the health authority's plans would increase manpower by roughly 200, - with 80 per cent of the jobs involving direct patient care. But despite this increase in spending the number of hospital beds available in the region has dropped by One per cent since 1979 a total of 1,235 beds across the whole area. At the same time more patients have been treated showing that hospitals are using beds more intensively by keeping patients in hospital for shorter periods.
Extract Evening Post 02/02/1987

 

Cash Boost To Health Care Approved

A bumper multi-million pound package of health care improvements has been approved by Oxford Regional Health Authority.
Members welcomed an extra £7.5 million which has been earmarked for expanding health services through- out the Thames Valley.
The extra money brings the region's total budget to more than £450 million.
When that is divided up between the various districts, West Berkshire will get almost £70 million and East Berkshire almost £54 million to keep health services ticking over. Chairman Sir Gordon Roberts was cautiously optimistic about the coming year's budget.
He said: "We are able to allow the districts sufficient money to keep in mind with the short term plan so we've actually achieved quite a lot." He added that the 6.3 per cent increase in budget was the third highest of any region in the country and gave the health authority "a slight degree of elbow room."
Staff
The coming year's budget will include £945,000 package for the mentally ill in East Berkshire including a special new unit for mentally ill patients at Heatherwood Hospital,Ascot.
Overall the health authority is hoping to increase manpower by roughly 200 jobs, with 80 per cent of those directly involved with patient care.
But senior planning administrator Ray Charman warned that in the past two years the region had failed to achieve even minimal increases in staff because of recruitment problems in the area.
Extract Evening Post 09/02/1987

 

Hospital Charity Raises £6,000

Berkshire hospitals are to receive more than £6,000 worth of equipment thanks to a focal charity.
The money was raised at a special St David's Day gala charity performance sponsored by the Charitable Association Supplying Hospitals (CASH) at the Theatre Royal, Windsor on Sunday.
The evening performance featured the London Welsh Male Voice Choir and the Band of the Life Guards
Equipment
Organiser Christine Culland said: "It was a marvellous evening. People came out glowing and were enormously generous."
The money will be spent among other things. on a life-pack resuscitator for Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot:
remedial equipment for Upton Hospital. Slough heart monitoring equipment for King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, and diagnostic equipment for laser surgery at Heatherwood.
Guests at the concert included Windsor and Maidenhead Mayor Shreela Flather and Mayor of Slough Cyril Gibbs.
Extract Evening Post 03/03/1987

 

Loyal Service Marked

More than 100 colleagues, past and present, attended a buffet to mark the retirement of Mrs. Ann Drummond, district superintendent radiographer at Frimley Park Hospital.
Mrs.Drummond, of Up down Hill, Windlesham, had been at the hospital since it opened in 1974 and before that worked at Farnham Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
Among the guests present were Mr. Frank Dunnett, the district general manager, who presented Mrs. Drummond with a cheque on behalf of the West Surrey and North East Hampshire Health Authority. Mrs. Jean Barrett, the president of the College and Society of Radiographers, referred to Mrs. Drummond's long and distinguished career.
Tireless
She undertook the demanding role of regional representative for the London area in 1977 and two years later took on the challenge of the professional and technical committee, being its chairman until 1983.
Mrs.Drummond was subsequently vice-president and then, in 1985-86, president of the college and became an MBE in recognition of her tireless services to her profession. Mrs. Barrett presented a basket of flowers and binoculars to Mrs.Drummond who is a keen observer and photographer of wildlife.
Mrs. Moira Bailey, chairman of the London and Home Counties branch, presented her with a holdall and golf equipment.
Mrs.Drummond thanked everyone for their friendship and professionalism and wished the profession well. She especially thanked Mrs. Olga Ovenden, her deputy district superintendent.
Extract Camberley News 24/04/1987

 

Surgeon Cleans Up a Hospital

Disgusted surgeon Stanley Simmons swapped his scalpel for a broom to clean up his filthy hospital.
The consultant spent an hour sweeping the entrance to the maternity block at Heatherwood Hospital at Ascot, Berks, which has had to slash its cleaning staff because of Government cash cuts.
He said yesterday: "I got sick and tired of complaining, so I just cleaned up the place myself."
Extract Daily Mirror 24/04/1987

 

Street Cleaners,Doc and Nurses clear up hospital rubbish

A top consultant at Heatherwood hospital in Ascot was reduced to sweeping the streets due to NHS cash cuts it was claimed this week Mr Stan Simmons, one of two consultant gynaecologists Heatherwood Hospital, took time out from his £21,000 a year job to pick up litter cluttering the pavements around the hospital, claims a hospital union.
He was concerned about mess between the delivery area and the maternity wards and was seen by patients and other hospital staff tidying up the spot with a team of nurses
"I'm tired with the state of the hospital," said Mr Simmons. It just isn't good enough."
Proud
"I am not going to put up with the mess any more and if no one else is going to do the job, I will do it myself. "We should be proud of our hospitals. I think the appearance of a hospital is very important and a lot of them are not what they used to be."
But branch chairman of the GMBATU (General and Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union) John McDougall has branded the tidy up as a frivolous waste of NHS cash.
"I think it is diabolical that a consultant who is paid tens of thousands of pounds a year is out with senior nurses sweeping the streets of the hospital," he said. "I am surprised an flabbergasted that he was doing it."
Mr McDougall blamed the un-tidiness of the hospital solely on cash cuts.
The region has the eighth longest waiting list in the country and this hospital is short funded by £30,000 pounds a year," he said.
Recently East Berkshire Health Authority saved an annual £100,000 by awarding a domestic contract to the private firm Mediclean.
A spokesman for East Berks Health Authority said savings of around £20,000 had been made at Heatherwood hospital since the cleaning had been put out to tender.
Extract Ascot Times & Evening Post 30/04/1987

 

Angry Hospital Consultant Sweeps Up Dirty Hospital

A consultant at a Berkshire hospital has been sweeping the grounds because of health service cash cuts.
Stan Simmons, one of two consultant gynaecologists at Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, took time out from his £21,000 a year job to pick up litter.
Appearance
He was particularly concerned about mess between the delivery area and the maternity wards, and last week he and a team of nurses were seen tidying up by patients and other hospital staff.
Mr Simmons said he was tired of seeing the hospital in such a state, and added: "It just isn't good enough." "I am not going to put up with the mess any more, and if no-one else is going to do the job, I will do it myself. "We should be proud of our hospitals.
I think the appearance of a hospital is very important and a lot of them are not what they used to be."
John McDougall, branch chairman of the General, Municipal, Boilermakers' and Allied Trades Union, said: "I think it is diabolical that a consultant who is paid tens of thousands of pounds a year is out with senior nurses sweeping the streets of the hospital because they are so dirty.
"I am surprised and flabbergasted that he was doing it."
Mr McDougall blamed the untidiness of the hospital solely on cash cuts.
He said: "The region has the eighth longest waiting list in the country and this hospital is underspent by £30,000 a year."
A spokesman for the East Berkshire Health Authority said there had been savings made at Heatherwood Hospital since the cleaning had been put out to tender.
He said savings in the last financial year had been somewhere in the region of £20,000.
Extract Evening Post 30/04/1987

 

Hospital Set For Revamp

Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital could find itself at the centre of a major reshuffle of East Berks' hospitals.
Possible changes include a major shift of acute hospital services to Heatherwood.
The changes would mean 50 new beds for the elderly at Heatherwood Hospital and the building of a new 15-bed children's department to replace the existing 24-bed department.
The old children's department would then be converted for general medicine. The hospital may also get 25 extra beds for general surgery and five for intensive care.
The changes are outlined in the health Authority's document "The possible pattern of acute and geriatric provision 1987 to 1994" which will act as a basis for discussion.
"We could be criticised for putting out ideas which are not complete, but I want to take account of what people feel about the ideas before we make any firm proposals," said district general manager David Treloar.
"When broad agreement has been reached on the general direction of development we shall need to do more work to assess the cost in terms of buildings, staff and training."
Mr Treloar added: "We face new demands, especially for services for the elderly, and it is important we use our resources to do the best we can."
Extract Ascot Times 30/04/1987

 

Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot Fuel-Saving

Measures have helped ease tight hospital budgets by up to £500,000 a year, particularly at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital.
Despite freezing Winter weather, good housekeeping has slashed Heatherwood hospital's fuel bills by 15 per cent.
The £500,000 saving will now be ploughed back into improving patient services.
Health authority chiefs have also cooked up a £26,000 new look to Heatherwood's kitchens.
The revamp of the hospital's cooking facilities was just part of £120,000 programme for improving East Berks hospital kitchens.
Extract Ascot Times 30/04/1987

 

Haircut Helps Hospital

White Lion pub regular Roy Laye got light headed to help sick children.
His sponsored haircut was one of several fund-raising events at the pub in Egham High Street, to help the children's ward at the Heatherwood Hospital,Ascot.
Having his shoulder length locks cut, combined with a tournament evening raised more than £150.
The evening was organised by landlords Chris and Pauline Cherry and their regular DJ Peter Kemp, who also has a show on Hospital Radio Heatherwood.
Extract Herald & News 30/04/1987

 

MP Hammers Health Wait

Shadow minister says East Berks is short changed
Report by LUKE BOSDET
National and local Labour politicians have blasted the East Berkshire health authority's hefty waiting list and blamed government health policy.
Shadow health minister Frank Dobson MP. claimed this week that East Berkshire ranks 171 out of 191 health areas in England.
The 7,670 people waiting for treatment represent 21 people out of every 1,000 people living in the area, claim the Labour Party, basing the figures on a Parliamentary answer from the government.
Urgent
The figures show 75 per cent of 499 East Berks people needing urgent treatment had to wait more than a month and 34 per cent of less serious cases were put on hold for over a year.
This simply is not good enough.
The people of East Berkshire are being short changed," said Mr Dobson. Despite its low ranking, the health authority got little from a government hand out of money to tackle waiting lists.
"We put in a bid for £400,000 and got back £80,000," said Brian Mackness, director of the authority's support services.
"Obviously there was a great weight of bids from up and down the country, but we thought we had a strong case.
Still, we are hopeful of getting more," he added."
But Mr Mackness pointed out that East Berkshire has for some time suffered long waiting lists which have recently dropped slightly.
"Waiting lists do not necessarily go down if you put more resources into them," he said.
"We have a new ear, nose and throat consultant, but the department's waiting list has increased.
If a department is known to be doing a good job, it tends to attract referrals from other areas"
Mr Mackness said the authority was chipping away at waiting lists by improving the use of operating theatres and increasing the amount of day surgery where people are treated and discharged within a day.
In 1982 East Berkshire health authority dealt with 38,400 patients, which rose to 40,000 in 1986.
Although the number of Heatherwood Hospital dipped from a peak of 10,925 in 1985 to 10.499 in 1986, the authority expect this year's figures will top 11,000.
"People's health is an essential priority, not an option. It is clear the money in this country is not being channelled into health," he said.
And Parliamentary candidate for the Alliance Linda Murray said: "The fact we did not get the money we asked for, which was specifically targeted for waiting lists, shows how complacent our national representative must be not to get a better deal."
Difficult
East Berks MP Andrew Mackay said he was well aware of the waiting lists thought Labour's statistics were deceptive in the light of the shortage of nurses.
The wards and physicians are there, but because of the high cost of living it has been difficult to attract nurses," explained Mr MacKay
He added he was pleased the nurses had finally got their pay rise and thought they should have been given even more
Mr Mackay said a large number of new operations. such as hip replacements and heart by-passes, were now more readily available than they had been 10 years ago and added to the workload.
Extract Crowthorne Times 21/05/1987

 

999 calls diverted to Slough

Accident emergency patients and bound for Heatherwood Hospital on Friday were diverted to Slough's Wexham Park Hospital because of staffing problems.
The difficulty was caused by the lack of an Accident and Emergency officer at Wexham Park, who then had to send for the one posted at Heatherwood Health chiefs say the switch was made because Wexham Hospital has more comprehensive Accident and Emergency facilities and could give patients a better service.
Heatherwood Hospital spokesman Alastair Watt said: "The casualty ward at Heatherwood was closed for a full shift from 9pm on Friday to 8am on Saturday "This was because the casualty officer at Wexham Park was unable to attend for the shift and so our officer went there."
All casualty wards must operate with a casualty officer and as Wexham Park has more advanced facilities is was decided to keep their ward open Wexham Park's director of planning and operational services Chris Burke said: "Obviously there could be extra distance involved in finding facilities but the facilities once they get here would be as comprehensive as on any other site."
Extract Crowthorne Times 04/06/1987

 

Hospital Unit To Stay Open

Public Fury Saves Emergency Ward
By Jane McCormick
Heatherwood Hospital's casualty unit has been granted a reprieve from closure due to a furious outcry from staff and patients.
Nursing staff feared Bracknell people would lose local emergency treatment when the closure of the Ascot hospital's accident and emergency unit announced was two days before it was due to shut down.
Staff at the unit feared the A and E unit would close for good and they were infuriated by a decision to reopen it, for one week only, during Royal Ascot Week.
But in a last minute decision on Friday the hospital back tracked and agreed to keep the unit open on a part-time basis.
The A and E unit will be open from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday and the 10 hour shifts will be worked by just ONE doctor. Heatherwood branch chairman of the General Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union John McDougall said he was relieved that the hospital had changed its mind over the closure.
"I don't know whether it's because of the general election or what, but I'm very encouraged by it," he said. "I'm disappointed that we have not got a full service but at least happy that we have got something." Heatherwood general manager John Neate blamed the closure threat on doctor recruitment difficulties He said the West Berks team of eight doctors who back up the two cons an responsible for A and E cover at Heatherwood and Wexham Park is now reduced to three.
And he said agency or part-time doctors cannot be found to bridge the gap over the summer "There really seemed to be no alternative but to partially close the accident and emergency at Heatherwood until we can fill this gap," said Mr Neate
He said the partial service will continue throughout the summer until improvements can be made. "I am delighted that we have been able to reinstate a partial service but I will not be satisfied until we reinstate the full service," he said. He said the plan to open the hospital during Royal Ascot was a necessary precaution with so many people attending the event.
He said during that week the hospital will be manned by voluntary doctors.
Director of Support Services for East Berks Health Authority Brian Mackness said the region experienced recruitment problems every year but the problem was particularly acute this year. He added that the hospital had managed to get "some very special temporary arrangements" for Royal Ascot
"We have managed to reach doctors who already I work but are willing to do a shift." he said. Bracknell's Labour candidate Robert Evans has I lashed out at the decision to close its casualty department at weekends and evenings
He said "The long term e future of the casualty department has not been assured and I wonder if it is a political decision to open it during Ascot Week"
Extract Ascot & Crowthorne Times 11/06/1987

 

Emergency Unit Hit by Doctor Shortage

By Jackie May
A desperate shortage of junior doctors has forced the part-time closure of a Berkshire hospital's emergency unit.. At first it was feared the casualty department at Heatherwood Hospital. Ascot, would have to be totally shut down.
But soon after the announcement was made last week a doctor offered to stand in and work a 10-hour shift to keep the unit open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday.
Emergency patients needing help outside those hours are now being urged to travel to Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital: Wexham Park Hospital. Slough or Frimley Park, Camberley
Heatherwood Hospital general manager John Neate said: "The problem is we have an acute shortage of junior medical staff. In fact we are down by 50 per cent."
At present there are only four instead of a team of eight junior doctors needed for accident and emergency cover at Heatherwood and Wexham Park and also to a small extent at St Mark's Hospital, Maidenhead.
Mr Neate said: "Two out of four doctors went to other posts before the end of their contract, one is on maternity leave and another left for other reasons.
"At its worst, the situation could go on until August 1 when our new intake of junior doctors come in.
"We took the decision to close Heatherwood part time because Wexham Park is the larger of the two units and it has intensive care take-up beds, and has more industrial accidents and is nearer the M4." The hospital hopes to extend its emergency service by a few hours during Royal Ascot week to cope with any extra demand.
Mr Neate said they had tried several unsuccessful desperate measures to find staff, including advertising. local medical agencies, asking local GPs and the army medical service.
He added: "We are still making every effort to fill the vacancies."
East Berkshire Health Authority has the worst problem in the Oxford region for recruitment of staff, said to be because health staff pay fails to cover the high cost of living expenses and houses in the area.
Extract Evening Post 11/06/1987

 

Ascot's Royal Style

Royal favourites Princess Diana and the Duchess of York won by a head in the fashion stakes at Royal Ascot. The two friends wowed the bumper crowds with their elegant outfits at the first day of the Berkshire race meeting yesterday. Di wore a floral printed cream suit with a wide brimmed cream hat while Fergie chose a sunshine yellow hat with a tight waisted yellow suit decorated with large white spots. Punters visiting Royal Ascot this week can help to raise funds for a Berkshire Hospital. Racegoers can park their cars in the grounds of the nearby Heatherwood Hospital for £5 per day, and £10 tomorrow, Ladies Day.
Extract Evening Post 17/06/1987

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.
The picture showed Princess Di & Fergie in their bonnets
captioned by Di & Fergie setting the style for Ascot.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Hospital Reopens Round the Clock

A hospital's accident and emergency department is to return to round-the-clock cover a week earlier than expected.
Last month Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, was forced to close the department over night on weekdays because of a shortage of junior doctors. The cut in services was expected to last until August 1, when a new intake of permanent staff arrives.
But East Berkshire Health Authority heard today that sufficient agency staff had been found to fill in and the accident and emergency department will reopen fully on July 27.
Chairman Don McWilliams said: "This is good news as it is much earlier than we feared that it would." Junior doctors provided by a pool of eight senior house doctors usually staff the accident department in the district.
The staff breakdown resulted when only four of the posts were filled.
At one stage, it looked as if the department would have to close completely but it was agreed a senior house officer would transfer to the department, enabling it to remain open from 9am until 8pm.
Extract Evening Post 15/07/1987

 

Windfall For Nurses

Computer Error Gives staff a cash bonanza
Staff at hospitals in the Bracknell area were overpaid by £8,000 last week and despite efforts to get the cash back, losses have had to be written off by the Regional Health Authority.
Workers at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot and Bracknell's Church Hill Hospital have benefitted in the lucky dip handout.
East Berkshire health chiefs in the cash starved NHS say the overpayment was due to a computer error passed on by the regional headquarters in Oxford. They say those effected were manual workers and ancillary staff who are paid weekly, directly into their bank account.
Initially they said they want the money back, but after a battle with NHS union leaders over the legality of the plan to dock wages to correct the slip, the region backed down.
The loss has been written off and workers are keeping the windfall in some cases as much as £30 each. Secretary of East Berkshire Joint Trade Union Committee Peter Stanley said after of series of meetings with the health authority this week the problem has now been resolved.
"The money that has been paid will be kept by the people it was paid to." he said "The trade unions now are just concerned that the money is not charged to the district."
He added that he was pleased that NHS union members who take home only £60 a week were able to benefit from a regional management mistake
East Berkshire branch chairman of the GMBATU. John McDougall, who works at Heatherwood hospital in Ascot, said the workers in the district had no way of knowing whether or not they had been overpaid as the extra amounts failed to show in wage slips
"We understand from a letter received with our wage slips that some employees have been overpaid or possibly even underpaid." he explained
"But since this does not show up in our wage slips we don't really know what has happened.
"We understand that the District Health Authority informed the Regional Health Authority of the alleged problem, but the region decided to pay people regardless.
"We have been told that a sum of approximately £8,000 extra has been paid out somewhere, and it is clearly a problem for the Regional Health Authority and not East Berkshire to sort out."
Assistant Director for Support Services at East Berkshire Health Authority Philip Jacques verified that the overpayment across the district had amounted to £8,000, adding that some employees had been overpaid by as much as £30.
He said: "There has been a mistake as a result of a computer error.
"We discovered the error ourselves, but the payroll was going through the computer by that stage."
Extract Ascot Times 16/07/1987

 

Dart Players Hit Charity Bullseye

Local darts players recently hit the bullseye in two separate charity events. Seven players took part notching up 234,020 points. They raised at least £150 towards a hydrotherapy pool for the Grange Special School in Aldershot.
Right are members of the C&A darts team from the Camberley store presenting money to Mr Alastair Watt, the administration secretary of Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
Pictured are Kim Barlow-Miles, Chris Austin and Janet Drury,who, together with around 40 staff members and friends raised £75 in a charity darts contest at the Golden Pot, Eversley. A donation from C & A brought the figure up to £185.
Extract Surrey Hants Star 03/09/1987

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by two photos.
Those Pictured left are Alan Davey and Andy Clarke about to warm up for a darts marathon at Aldershot's Lord Campbell public house.
Pictured are Kim Barlow-Miles, Chris Austin and Janet Drury, are members of the C&A darts team from the Camberley store presenting money to Mr Alastair Watt, the administration secretary of Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photos here.

 

Petition Calls For Hospital Cash Injection

A major campaign to inject more cash into a Berkshire hospital has been launched, following claims it is under-funded, under-equipped and under-staffed.
Bracknell and District Federation of Community Organisations said a lack of cash and equipment means staff at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital are rushed off their feet, which leads to inevitable health service problems.
Now they are urging every resident in the rapidly-growing town to sign a petition to be sent to local MPs and Junior Health Minister Edwina Currie, calling for more funds for the flagging hospital.
The plea follows a meeting, last month, of the Federation, Heatherwood's general manager John Neate, and representatives of East Berkshire health bodies. Federation member, Dick Stewart a member of Crown Wood Community Association said: "The fundamental problem is that Heatherwood is under funded."
Mr Stewart said: "The staff are working under such intense pressure that things are bound to go wrong. "You only have to read the papers to know the problem of under-funding is not unique to Heatherwood but it is Heatherwood which must be our concern."
Hospital manager John Neate said he was pleased with the support shown towards the health service in the Bracknell area.
He said: "It is very important that we do work together with community associations to try and improve the health service. "We can see needs that are perhaps not being met. There are pressures on staff and undoubtedly we could put additional resources to very good use. "We have made great efforts, over recent years, to ensure the services we provide are provided cost effectively and I believe we do provide value for money."
Extract Evening Post 10/09/1987

 

Fire at Hospital

Faulty electrics at Heatherwood Hospital's maternity unit brought Bracknell firemen rushing to the scene on Monday night.
A relay had burned out in the automatic switch gear in the call unit, causing a small fire.
Firemen donned special electrical protective gloves to remove the fuses so that the hospital was not left without power.
The gloves are capable of withstanding 3,000 volts. Sub-officer Brian Cameron praised hospital staff for their emergency routine.
Firemen then waited for the hospital's electrical staff to check the electrical panels through.
Extract Ascot & Crowthorne Times 17/09/1987

 

Pensioner Found Safe

A Berkshire pensioner has been found safe and well after lying helpless on wasteland for nearly two days.
Nelly Price was found by police dog handlers who were leading a hunt for her at White Waltham airfield near Maidenhead.
She went missing from the Tudor House Residential Home, Waltham Road, Woodlands Park, Maidenhead, on Saturday.
Chief Inspector Cliff Brown of Maidenhead police said she had fallen and could not get up.
She was treated at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital but allowed home.
Extract Evening Post 29/09/1987

 

Running into Trouble

Ambulancemen had their hands full at a Berkshire half marathon when runner after runner collapsed.
The Windsor race's medical organiser Dr Chris Carney warned today that would be runners must prepare properly.
Police had to pick up extra supplies of infusion drips from Heatherwood Hospital as doctors and ambulancemen coped with dehydrated runners.
Dr Carney said the hot, humid weather was partly to blame but he warned that runners did not drink enough before and during the race.
Extract Evening Post 05/10/1987

 

Jobless Centre To Fight For Life

The jobless in Bracknell desperately need the town's centre for the unemployed, say organisers battling to save it from the county council axe.
Centre co-ordinator Geraldine Ryder is appalled by a recent decision to cut funding claiming that would mean closure for the centre.
But she has vowed that will not happen without fight Said Mrs Ryder: "We need the help of everyone in Bracknell to keep this centre open. I'm holding an open day on October 21 to allow the people of Bracknell, and those council committee members, to come and see for themselves what we do here.
"We're starting a petition during a presentation of the And top consultant centre in Princess Square on November 6" psychiatrist Dr Graham Gall said many of his patients use the centre and adds that without it they would simply not get the help they need.
Stress
He claims the jobless in Bracknell are under more stress through being out of work than people in depressed northern inner cities where the unemployed form a more substantial minority.
The doctor says the centre helps the mentally ill as well as the unemployed and fills what he claims are growing gaps in social service provisions.
He said Bracknell has minimal community care for the mentally ill and Heatherwood Hospital's new mental health department won't be able to offer what every patient needs. The outcry over the Bracknell centre arose from a county council decision last Thursday to divert funding from four centres for the jobless including Reading Slough and Newbury.
Instead the council's employment sub committee wants to put the cash, more than £3,000 in Bracknell's case, into skill training and job initiatives.
Suffer
But Dr Gall said: "Many people who use the centre are from achieving Bracknell families but maybe don't live up to their family's expectations.
Here is where the real stress comes from and many young people from Bracknell suffer from it."
The centre's management committee is now looking for alternative sources of funding Messages of support have been flooding into the centre, including letters from Dr Gall, Bracknell's mental health group MIND and the town's Citizen's Advice Bureau.
CAB organiser Sylvia Kearton said this week the centre would be sorely missed and it would increase the bureau's work load.
She said she was not sure if Bracknell CAB could cope.
Extract Evening Post & Crowthorne Times 08/10/1987

 

New Machine

Ascot's Heatherwood hospital is due to receive a new ultrasound machine for obstetrics and gynaecology.
The £50,000 machine, paid for by the Oxford Regional Health Authority, will replace one of the two existing five-year-old machines
Ultrasound is also used for general work, such as investigation of kidney disease in children.
Extract Ascot Crowthorne & Wokingham Times 05/11/1987

 

Hospital's Ban on Smoking in Wards

Staff and visitors at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital are being ordered to stop smoking as part of a new health policy.
The "get tough" line on smoking begins on December 7 and the ban, which covers patients also, will only be lifted for one hour in the morning, afternoon and evening Heatherwood's unit general manager, John Neate said: "The majority of the people in this country, some 66 per cent, are non-smokers.
Right
"The health authority believes then that patients, visitors and staff who don't smoke have the right to breath smoke free air." Smoking will not be allowed in out-patient departments, wards, the accident and emergency department, corridors and communal areas.
But areas in day rooms have been set aside for those who can't give up.
Harmful
Mr Neate explained the new policy saying: "The harmful effects on health of smoking are now well known and considerable resources are spent each year by the NHS on treating smoking related diseases And he pointed out that smoking was the "single most preventable cause of death and ill health".
Extract Evening Post 19/11/1987

 

Plea to Support £3m Cancer care Appeal

Luke Bosdet reporting
Bracknell people are being urged to join the campaign to raise money for the £3 million cancer care scheme in West Berkshire.
Organisers of the Royal Berkshire Hospital 150th Anniversary Appeal, raising money for the unique project, have stressed its benefit to Bracknell cancer victims.
Although the town lies in East Berkshire Health District, it falls within the catchment area for the RBH's cancer treatment unit.
The new cancer care scheme, which will be the best in the country, will therefore draw many of its patients from the Bracknell area.
The only alternative is a long trip to a London hospital.
Although a number of town groups. including The Garth Hill School, Bracknell Rotaract and Bracknell College, have donated large sums, appeal co-ordinators fear many Bracknell people mistakenly believe they will gain nothing from giving their support to the scheme.
"It causes confusion in people's minds." said appeal co-ordinator Rena Hobbs "People in Bracknell tend to think they would go to Heatherwood Hospital although they would come to the radiotherapy unit in Reading. We even get patients from Ascot."
Appeal organisers are now looking for a committee of people who can spare a little time to help run fund-raising activities in Bracknell
In the 14 months since it was launched, the appeal has raised £1.1 million. Earlier this year the big. established charity Cancer Relief joined forces with the RBH Appeal to push for the major cancer care scheme, staffed by Cancer Relief's specialist Macmillan Nurses.
The overall £3 million scheme will provide a system which diagnoses, treats and supports patients and their families.
As well as modernising the radiotherapy unit at Reading's RBH. Cancer Relief will build a cancer care unit and two day care centres, the one at Wokingham catering for Bracknell's needs as well Despite their awesome target a dedicated band of organisers have pushed on with the appeal, spurred on by the reaction from people.
"It is the good will and kindness of people who have I raised money for us which is so warming.
Sometimes they are embarrassingly kind and generous." said Mrs Hobbs.
Anyone who would like to help the appeal can contact Rena on Crowthorne 774798
Extract Ascot & Crowthorne Times 03/12/1987

 

Regulars Take Aim

Money raisers at an Addlestone pub are hoping to pin down more than £1,500 to help out a 19-year-old regular who suffers from arthritis.
Cash from a marathon dart throwing at the Magnet in Station Road will go towards specialist equipment for Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. Regulars will start the marathon tomorrow and finish on Saturday evening.
A disco will follow which will include a raffle, with prizes given by Addlestone traders. The money will also be split between Cancer Research and the Arthritis Council.
On Sunday the fund raisers will be taking to the netball court at Abbeylands Sports Centre. Anyone interested in sponsoring any of these events should telephone the Magnet on Weybridge 847908.
Extract Herald & News 10/12/1987

 

Magnet Marathon Raises £2,300

A Dart throwing marathon, net balling and a host of other stunts at an Addlestone pub during the weekend have raised more than £2,300 for charity.
Regulars at the Magnet in Station Road scored a total of 901,000 points in their 24 hour darts marathon, and totted up nearly £2,000 in sponsorship.
Landlord Gary Adkins said: "We kept each other going through the 24 hours, playing and resting in shifts."
The fund-raising marathon £2,300 will benefit Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot where one of the regulars is being treated Cancer Research for arthritis and the Arthritis Society.
"It was a great success.
We had lots of support for the darts marathon and the pub was packed for the raffle and disco during the evening," said Mr Adkins.
The fund-raising fun continued on Sunday when regulars took to the netball court as tramps and tarts and boosted the total even more.
Extract Herald & News 17/12/1987

 

Hospitals Forced to Cut Opps

By Luke Bosdet
A critical shortage of operating theatre staff has forced a 25 per cent cut in operating sessions in Ascot's Heatherwood and Windsor's King Edward VII Hospitals.
Meanwhile Heatherwood Hospital is imposing tight financial restrictions on both equipment and taking on new staff to combat an unexpected four per cent overspend on the budget to October.
Operating sessions at the hospitals will be cut from 53 to 40 per week to make the best use of remaining operating theatre staff.
A combination of recruiting problems and staff leaving for further training and new posts in Britain and overseas has sapped manpower in the theatres
The hospital's General Manager, John Neate, stressed the number of operations would not be reduced so drastically as work in remaining sessions is intensified.
He added the burden of cuts would be spread across all areas of specialist areas of surgery. The level of operating staff tends to go through peaks and troughs and although there is nothing to suggest the task will be made easier over the next few months, I am optimistic we will get more staff," explained Mr Neate.
Health authority chiefs were surprised to find Heatherwood Hospital's spending had overshot its budget by four per cent. Expenditure in medical and mental areas topped the £700,000 budget by £77,000, supply costs were £36,000 over the expected £316,000, administrative costs were up £68,000 on the expected £880,000 and catering costs were £71,000 over the expected £240,000.
Problems
Mr Neate said problems with the regional health computer system meant the hospital was unable to monitor its spending accurately over the first half of this year
A heavy reliance on agencies, due to recruitment problems, to fill staff gaps have caused manpower costs to soar. Advanced equipment and procedures for operations and other hospital work also pushed up spending Mr Neate admitted attempts at the beginning of the year to tighten budgets had proved over zealous and the cost of catering and medical supplies had over stretched their budgets to meet demand.
New staff will be taken on only with the permission of Mr Neate and the purchase of a any item over £250 will be referred to him for acceptance.
The management is also having lengthy discussions with consultants to get the best value for money on medical and surgical supplies.
Extract Ascot & Crowthorne Times 17/12/1987

 

£1m Deficit Threatens Health Service

Hospital services or health projects could be threatened as East Berks District Health Authority's budget deficit looks set to reach £1 million next year.
District health chiefs are now considering whether to let long-term projects like Heatherwood's mental health units bear the brunt of savings or cut back on existing hospital services.
The excess cost of pay awards and increased prices has swallowed half of the money expected for health developments in the district The health authority announced the need for £822,000 cuts in October to cover next year's budget gap and highlighted a series of possible options for cutting patient services and closing beds.
Health authority spokesman Brian Mackness said: The health authority is most concerned for the financial prospects for next year."
He could offer little hope for the immediate future.
There does not appear to be much light at the end of the tunnel.
There is no prospect of a government allocation of additional resources." said Mr Mackness
Despite economy savings at Heatherwood and other East Berks hospitals recently, he added the budget problem was too big to be solved by tighter housekeeping.
Revised budget proposals will be presented to a meeting of the health authority between February and March.
Extract Ascot Times 17/12/1987

 

Save Our Santa

Nurses caring for sick children at Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital say their special Christmas treat may have to be cancelled unless YOU can help.
For their Father Christmas costume, used every year to bring seasonal joy to the sick youngsters, has gone missing
And unless one can be found, Santa's visit to the ward will not be possible.
Ward Sister Jacqui Howard explained: "We keep the costume under lock and key but we went to find it for this year and it's gone.
"We can't say for sure that it's been stolen, but we need a costume badly for Christmas Day. If we don't get one I just don't know what we'll do."
Anything up to a dozen sick children will be spending Christmas on the brightly decorated ward this year. unable to spend it at home with their loved ones.
A dedicated team of 12 nurses will be working around the clock to ensure the toddlers' safety as we tuck into our turkey at home.
Parents and friends of the sick children are expected to spend the whole day on the ward with their child.
A volunteer has come forward to be Santa but his services may not be needed if he hasn't got a costume.
If you can provide a Santa costume for the children on Ward 2 at Heatherwood, ring the hospital on Ascot 23333.
Extract Ascot Crowthorne & Wokingham Times 24/12/1987

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo.
Captioned Hoping For Santa - Sarah Featherstone,playleader Debby Wilson and Zoe Roberton
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.

 

Babes Wail In for First Noel

Christmas brought a surprise bundle of joy to first-time mum Suzannah Prus. Suzannah was visiting her parents in South Oxfordshire on Christmas Eve, when she went into labour one month early. And in the early hours of Christmas morning at Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital, tiny Max weighed in at 5lbs 6ozs
He was one of a bumper 13 Christmas Day babies born at the RBH.
Senior midwife Nicola Benns said: "We have been rushed off our feet. This is the most babies I have known to be born here on Christmas Day."
At Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital, a further eight babies were safely delivered on Christmas Day.
But maternity staff at Newbury District Hospital had their quietest festive season on record, with no babies being born on Christmas Day and none expected on Boxing Day either.
First to be born at the RBH, just 16 minutes into Christmas Day, was a bouncing girl the fifth baby for Zafar and Zadoon Tqbal of Northumberland Avenue, Reading
The hospital's smallest Christmas Day baby was 5lb Kendra, born to Jenny Spooner of Staverton Road, Reading.
Suzannah Prus, aged 26, and her art dealer husband Timothy had travelled from London to spend Christmas with her parents, Jane and Richard Shelton, at their home in New Road, Shiplake.
"It's a real Christmas treat," said delighted Suzannah. She praised hospital staff who allowed her to deliver Max naturally, without drugs, despite it being a breech birth.
Only hours before she had visited an acupuncturist, in a bid to turn the baby in the womb.
Proud grandmother Mrs Shelton said: "He's a wonderful present.
"We were watching television, when Suzannah suddenly said 'I think I've started It was all very quick."
Extract Evening Post 28/12/1987

Comment:- The above article was accompanied by a photo of all the babies & mums
Captioned Up to The Nines - Nine of the babies born at Reading Royal Berkshire Hospital on Christmas day.
Copyright prevents us from displaying the photo here.