Dr Chris’ Monthly Blog - November 2011
I am just packing to go to Zimbabwe and Zambia. Can’t wait to see old friends and do a bit of teaching and examining i.e. get the grey calls working again. Ruth and Iwan are coming to Zambia to be with me after spending a week at Victoria Falls doing daring things. I am being awarded an Honorary Fellowship to the College Surgeons of the East, Central and Southern Africa.
I have spent a great deal of time with the CHC (Community Health Council) attending Emergency Surgery reviews for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Trust. The 3 District General Hospital Emergency departments will stay open but there are not enough general surgeons to have more than 2 emergency surgery hospitals. This is because vascular and breast surgery are no longer on the rota so they have to rely on the GI tract surgeons and there are not enough of them, thanks to laws from EU. I fear it will be Glan Clwyd that loses out, like wise on the maternity services. But the decision time is not yet upon them and they have to contend with the vast hue and cry which will come from Rhyl etc on the A55 corridor.
The council is sorting out the finances for next year - we have had the first of many meetings. Denbighshire CC has sold 2 large assets so we are on course for the £4.9million reduction needed furthermore they have trimmed the personnel down amazingly.
On the home front we had a well attended Remembrance Day service at St. Garmon’s. This service has in recent years become very much more relevant and there was a good turn out by the youths of the Air cadets.
The youth club went paint balling in the late October half term at St Georges Abergele. This was run by Denbighshire Youth Services and was great fun. The youth club has really settled down well in the new old schoolroom and we feel really at home there. We have a table tennis table (generously donated) and a new collapsible pool table (see photo). It is the tuck shop which is the big attraction however as everything is cost price at 25p.
There has also been an improvement by the parents offering help, which is good but there are still mums and dads who are not helping. We are only asking 2 hours of your time every 4 to 6 weeks. The Christmas party is on December 14th 6.30 to 9.00pm All 10 to 17 year olds welcome.
I will be back 2nd week in December probably glad to be back in the cold. I find Africa too hot, especially in their summer.
Regards Christine
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