This report reviews the first year of our groups activities. We have come a long way since the first exploratory meeting at St Margaret’s Hospice, Yeovil on Thursday 3rd August 2006  that led to the formation of two separate groups with  differing approaches. Our group  with a  focus on the support side and the Taunton group  with a focus on charity status and fund raising on a county wide basis. It is very pleasing to note that two thriving groups have emerged from the initial meeting.
Our second meeting  on  the 8th September 2006 reviewed the way forward for a local group focused on support issues for patients and carers. It was agreed that the structure of the group should be kept as simple as possible and in the initial stages all that was required was a “Chair” for the meetings and a “Webmaster” for development of a group web site.  Following a presentation by Rowland of the pages for an initial web site it was proposed that he undertook both roles and the meeting voted and agreed the motion.
The third meeting on  21st October 2006 was the first  with Rowland in the ‘chair’ and we were pleased to welcome our first new member. Ideas for promoting the group were discussed and it was agreed we should try and get a Macmillan representative along to discuss support group training. The web site content was reviewed and members were requested to consider writing their stories for inclusion on the site.
At our fourth meeting on 17th November 2006 we reviewed progress on publicity aspects and  it was confirmed that posters and information leaflets had been placed on notice boards at YDH. Leaflets were also being included into the Patient Diaries given to all new colorectal cancer patients on admission to hospital for their surgery. We were still awaiting  a response from Macmillan. This meeting introduced our “Open Forum”session where members could freely express their concerns, questions and experiences with each other.
Our fifth meeting on 14th December 2006 was scheduled to include our first guest speaker but he had to cancel with just three days notice., however, he would be available for our February 2007 meeting. It was confirmed that the new Macmillan Regional Coordinator would be our guest speaker in January 2007. We held an impromptu Christmas Raffle and raised £12 that was passed to St Margaret’s.

Back                                                                                           Next Page