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I want to ...


... Join the Friends or Volunteer


... Make a Donation


... Contact the Bristol Eye Hospital

 

...  Contact Us

 

The Friends' postal address, telephone numbers and the email addresses of the Secretary, the Treasurer and our Publicity Officer are all shown at the foot of each page.

 Friends of Bristol Eye Hospital improve care and treatment for patients by helping to pay for medical equipment, patient comforts and staff resources which would not otherwise be provided.  Treatment for all patients has been greatly enhanced by our supporters.

At our 2018 AGM on 9 May, trustees Annette Barrington and Deborah Hill did not stand for re-election and thus stood down after 26 and 8 years' service respectively.  Annette was our Chairman 2009-16 and Deborah was Treasurer 2010-12.  We thank them both for their contributions to the Friends. 


Our Trustees Report & Accounts for the year to 28 February 2018 were approved  by members at the AGM and may be viewed on our Reports page.  Grants paid by the Friends this year include:

  • a Motorised Wheelchair to transport patients more easily and safely between BEH and the BRI
  • training equipment for the Eye Clinic Liaison team and volunteers from the RNIB to show visually impaired or blind patients what is available to help them live safely and independently
  • a new Icare Tonometer
  • a Portable Slit Lamp
  • patients' chairs for the Theatre Ward and Gloucester Ward
  • refurbishment of a clinic in the Queen Anne Building
  • an Ophthalmic Patient Assessment Chair
  • a kitchen for staff on the Theatre Level
  • AutoDrops for patients (kindly funded by the Burges Salmon Charitable Trust)
  • tablets to assist vision testing of special needs children  

None of these would have been possible wthout the generous support of our members and donors.


 In Sight 2018 is slightly delayed this year; it will be published in the summer.

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Henleaze Garden Club brightens Patients' Garden

 

St Odilia’s Garden, the courtyard garden for patients situated in the reception area of the Eye Hospital, has a beautiful newly planted pot thanks to the work done by members of the Henleaze Garden Club.


The Friends asked the Garden Club whether they would like to design and plant a pot for the garden and were delighted when the Club’s Chairman, Andy Harrison, agreed.


Andy delivered the pot at the end of May and it was quickly receiving admiring comments - a beautiful mixture of diasca, agaranthus, cosmos, pelargoniums and calabrachoa.


In addition, when the Andy heard that we were planning to completely replant the central bed of the garden – around the statue of St Odilia – he immediately offered to clear and replant it for us.  This was completed in no time at all and it is now bedding down nicely with a lovely mixture of aromatic and colourful plants; the bed is already looking lovely and will be a delight when it is fully mature.


The Friends are delighted with the results and are very grateful to the Garden Club, and particularly Andy and his family, for their generosity and hard work, which we are sure will bring much pleasure to the patients and staff at the hospital.

 

Fund-raising in memory of James Griffiths


On 27 May 2018, James Reddish, Helen Jenkins and Wayne Barrett ran the Edinburgh Marathon, raising funds in memory of their dear friend James Griffiths, who sadly died in April 2017, aged 36, following complications after a major heart operation.  James was a constant inspiration as he tackled persistent health issues and challenges, always doing so with his unique sense of positivity, humour and wit.


Louise (James's mum) and Victoria (James' sister) also ran the Edinburgh half marathon on the same day.  Nick Blackmore had to drop out of the marathon through injury but continued to fund-raise.


They raised over £2,400 for three charities that helped James through his numerous health challenges: the Harefield hospital charity, the British Heart Foundation and Friends of Bristol Eye Hospital, where James was treated for multiple eye issues over many years.  If you would care to sponsor them, you can still do this at MyDonate.


James's family also organised a sell-out Ball on 27 April to celebrate his life and to raise funds.  Details of this very successful and emotional night to follow.

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We thank Helen, Wayne, James, Nick, Louise and Victoria for their sterling efforts - both running and fund-raising.


General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)


GDPR requires us to protect personal data, inform supporters what data is held for them, how it is used, and how it can be viewed, amended or deleted.  We have written to all Members, supporters and volunteers setting out how we comply with GDPR.  Our updated Privacy Policy can be viewed on our Reports page.

If you have not heard from us and wish to be contacted, or if you require any further information about our stance on GDPR, please contact the Secretary.

Issued 17 May 2018