News

March 2010
It was announced at the March meeting that both The Chairperson ,Phyllis and Secretary, Ruth wish to stand down from theire positions as of the next AGM. It has been proposed that Chris Allen has been put forward for the position of Chairperson and Dorothy Taylor for Secretary. Both Ruth and Phyllis are still going to be involved with the Clwyd branch.

3rd June 2009
Walton Centre Progress Report

I attended a meeting of Shadow Foundation Trust Governors of The Walton Centre in St Asaph on Thursday June 4th 2009.

It is hoped that Foundation Trust status will be granted by the end of July. The overseeing body, Monitor,has asked for a copy of the proposed business plan and the Directors of the centre have been asked to attend a meeting to discuss this with Monitor in London at the end of July.

If the result is satisfactory, Foundation Trust status should then be granted within a few days.

As of last week, the membership was 6,661, which means that the centre had met the target set by Monitor. The next target which the centre has set is to recruit and retain 9,000 members.

Mel Pickup, the Chief Executive,gave a presentation on the service developments already taking place and planned for the future.

Work will begin this Summer to build a new radiotherapy facility in the grounds of the Walton Centre. This will be an exciting collaboration between the Walton Centre, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This development should be completed by December 2010.

A linear accelerator will be installed to allow the centre to carry out Stereotatic Radio surgery,(SRS). SRS is a non-surgical procedure using x-rays to treat suitable conditions. Currently patients have to go to Sheffield for this treatment.

To remain at the forefront of specialist neurosurgery the centre must have this capability. Radiotherapy and Neurosurgery services must be co-located. In addition, Critical Care facilities will be expanded by the addition of an extra 7 intensive care beds.

To care for these extra patients, 2 new consultants,4 registrars and more than 40 nurses will be recruited.

A new acute ward will be created with 11 new beds, plus 4 further beds will be transferred from the neighbouring Caton ward. 15 new nurses will be recruited and some staff will be transferred from Caton ward. This new ward will have the capacity to treat approximately 750 patients a year.

P.M. Andrews

May 2009
Walton Centre for Neurology, Diagnostic clinics being rolled out across North Wales. 
As most of you know, the Walton has applied for foundation trust status. The current position is that we have met the target for 6,000 public members by the end of April. Monitor, the organisation that makes the decision over whether Trust status is granted or not has asked for a business plan. If this is acceptable it is hoped Trust status will be granted towards the end of Summer 2009. Meanwhile, we have been set a new target of 9,000 public members. When Trust status is granted this will be over seen by a board of Trust Governors Since last November I have been one of 3 Governors representing North Wales. Besides keeping a watchful eye on how the Trust is performing another of the duties of a Governor is to represent the views of the public in their area. So, if you have any comments about the Walton, good or bad, you know who to contact.

Peter Andrews
Treasurer of Clwyd Branch of MNDA

For details of other MND Association Branches in other areas, please contact National Office at enquiries@mndassociation.org or telephone 01604 250505.