Our 2023 edition of In Sight has been printed and distributed to all members and supporters who have requested copies (either by post or email).

Copies are available from display racks in the hospital and you can also view or download copies at In Sight.

21 April 2023, updated 11 May

We are sad to report that Richard Markham has stood down after serving as a trustee for seven years including four as Chairman.  A Life Member of the Friends since 2002, Richard has supported and encouraged our activities since the charity’s earliest days.  We greatly appreciated his increased commitment and contribution to the Friends after his official retirement from full-time consultancy at BEH, even while he continued to help the hospital by taking clinics.

We shall miss his wise counsel and deep knowledge and experience.  We thank him profoundly for his support.

30 March 2023

At our AGM on Wednesday 10 May 2023:

• Dinah Harrison stood down as Chairman.
• Kay McCluskey was elected as our new Chairman.
• Wendy Beatty retired as our Secretary and stood down as a trustee.
• Carole Brooke was elected as a new trustee.
• Members approved our Annual Report & Accounts for the year ending 28 February 2023.

More details to follow shortly.

11 May 2023

Allied ophthalmology health professionals are increasingly responsible for clinical duties and care for our patients.  It’s vital they are well trained.

Examination using a slit-lamp is the most fundamental aspect of eye examination.  It is a complex skill – often taking a long time to train and become proficient.  Using a slit lamp camera can teach basic skills in a matter of hours rather than weeks or months.  BEH has a 3D slit lamp camera system which already has excellent feedback from allied health professionals, junior doctors, medical students, and others.  The connection of this to a relatively inexpensive 3D television permits innovative, high definition, immersive training.

Patients can also benefit from this TV as they can watch back recorded videos of their examination to understand their eye condition better.

This grant cost £599.

7 March 2023

We have funded improvements in three areas of the hospital:

• The ground floor examination room can be very noisy when several patients are being examined at the same time.  We have funded soundproofing so that staff and patients may hear each other clearly, which enables clinicians to obtain the correct information (and it’s more private).  This grant was funded out of donations raised in memory of Graham Murphy.
• New worksurfaces and flooring in the Imaging Office, used for printing for oncology referrals, uploading oculoplastic imaging and exporting images for doctors, as well as for training and a staff rest area.  We have created space for a new workstation and provided a much-needed uplift to the tired office which promotes tidy working and enhances staff wellbeing.
• New worksurface with lockable cupboards in the Orthoptic Adult Assessment Room.  These allow patient notes to be kept safe and out of sight during clinics and provide safe storage of equipment and eye drops.  The room is now more appropriate for clinical assessment and much more easily cleaned between patients – and there is more space in the reception area to reduce crowding.

The total cost of all these works is £10,066.

3 February 2023

We are delighted to welcome Gail Glew and Jenny Ward as trustees.  Gail and Jenny both retired from the hospital after a truly astonishing 51 years’ service each for the Bristol NHS Trust.  Prior to her retirement in July 2022, Jenny attended our trustees’ meetings for many years (as the representative for all the nursing staff), advising us on grants and assisting with fundraising events.

As trustees, Gail and Jenny will continue to help us support the hospital.  Their astounding loyalty, long experience and passion for serving the hospital’s patients and all things BEH will be invaluable.

As new co-opted trustees, both will serve until our next AGM on 10 May 2023, when they will stand for election by the Friends’ members.

27 January 2023, amended 31 March 2023

We have a new promotional leaflet “PLEASE LOOK INSIDE” now on display in the hospital.  The leaflet briefly describes what we do, with some examples of grants we’ve made.  It also encourages people to join us, setting out different ways of donating and how to request information.

The leaflet also contains a loose stand-alone form to join or donate to the Friends.

9 November 2022

16 March 2022

DONATE BY BANK TRANSFER.  We incur no charges for donations made by Open Banking transfer using Wonderful Payments, or by BACS.

DONATE BY CARD.  Operated by Donorbox.

DONATE BY OTHER METHODS, eg Cheque, Cash or Text.

You can Gift Aid your donation or, if you wish to become a member of the Friends, request correspondence from us or let us know of any particular reason why you are donating, perhaps in thanks for treatment or in memory of someone, you can do all these:

• online if donating by card or
• by completing a donation form, which you can download or pick up in the hospital.

16 July 2021, updated 8 September 2022