Friends of Wistaria Surgery were inaugurated in January 2003 as an independent voluntary organisation whose purpose is to provide activities and raise funds for the benefit of patients and staff of the surgery.

The "Friends" support the Practice through fund raising, for equipment not otherwise available from the Local Primary Care Trust, facilitation of new resources and practical assistance such as help with annual 'flu' clinics.

Amongst the regular activities the 'Friends' organise are General Meetings, with speakers from the medical profession, monthly coffee mornings in the surgery's River Suite, local walks and fund raising events.

Future events are publicised on the 'Friends' notice board in the surgery's reception, in the newsletter and on this web site. All activities take place in the spirit of the watchwords 'fun, friendship and fundraising' and there is a real sense of  working in partnership with the surgery and its staff to promote the welfare of patients.

Membership application forms are available from the reception desk at the surgery or you can download a copy in PDF format. Applicants should reside in or near the catchment area of the surgery you do not need to be registered as patients at the surgery to be a 'Friend'.

Friends Befriending Service

Gill Taunt is now co-ordinating this service. We have many more patients who would benefit from a befriender visiting occasionally. Please contact Gill Taunt 01590 677 734 for more information. More volunteers always needed.

Digital TV switchover

One of the workshops at the Good Neighbours Support Service Annual General Meeting was on the Digital TV switchover which starts in our area on the 7^th March, 2012 and in the rest of the Meridian region from February 2012, just a few months away. An excellent presentation was given by Peter Hellawell, an entertaining speaker from Community Action Hampshire. If you don't have a digital television by the time of the switchover, when the existing analogue TV signal is switched off your TV screen will go blank. The new digital service will have a stronger signal and enables many more channels to be transmitted. The workshop was introduced to Digit Al, the little figure that is becoming familiar to all of us from our TV screens and then given a 'Treasure Hunt' to complete in the form of questions covering various aspects of the switchover. (Question:  What is Rowridge? - find the answer in future events).  Even people who already have digital TV will be affected as some retuning is going to be necessary.
All current TV's can be converted by installing a neat set top box for as little as £25. There is a Switchover Help Scheme for people who do not have digital TV in their home providing they meet certain criteria, such as: is aged 75 or over, or has lived in a care home for six months or more, or gets (or could get) Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Constant Attendance Allowance, or Mobility supplement, or is registered blind or partially sighted.  For more information call free on 0800 40 85 900 or visit helpscheme.co.uk.

Thanks to speedy work by Julia and Neville Lewcock Peter Hellawell has agreed to talk at our 3^rd January coffee morning on the Digital TV changeover.

Previous Events
Bring a plate supper quiz
Friends Sunday Lunch

Blood donors always required
Many patients receive blood products on a regular basis, and for some patients, this can save or extend their life. Our past President, Dr David Bodley-Scott, who had been a patient at Portsmouth Hospitals said of his experience: "I had been losing up to six pints of blood each week from my intestines for almost a year. I was given four to six pints of donated blood each week to keep me alive, I have had over 140 pints of donated blood and shall always be grateful to the wonderful selfless donors."

http://www.blood.co.uk/  for more information

Naomi House Open day Visit

A coach load of Friends visited Naomi House and enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the hospice. The Play Room was very interesting with all its stimulation and sensory equipment for the children to enjoy. The Hydrotherapy pool provides exercise and enjoyment. Everyone was moved by the Butterfly Suite where parents and siblings can say their goodbyes when a child dies and can start the grieving process. Alongside is the Dovecote, an area of great tranquillity where their bereavement support team are available.
01962 843513.
For more information please visit their web site

BEFRIENDERS URGENTLY REQUIRED

Unfortunately, the high demand for this fantastic service is fast outweighing our team of befrienders. The group that co-ordinate the service have had to introduce a waiting list, which is a great pity as the patients who would benefit from an occasional visit now have to wait.

It does show how much a befriending service is needed and how much good is done by such a simple visit, having a chat and perhaps a cup of tea. And that is all that is needed, a couple of visits a week and you have made someone's life so much more enjoyable. There are no particular skills involved, anyone can do it.

Friendships have already been formed by those who are already part of the befriending team who will tell you how much they enjoy their visits and both the befriender and the befriended get a great deal from the service.

If you have an hour or so a week to spare, please contact Gill Taunt 01590 677 734 who will explain more about the service and how you can join the team of befrienders.

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