Firstly, I would like to personally thank our President, Ken, Sue our treasurer and Wendy our Secretary and all the committee for their support over the last year. Everyone has stepped up when, for family or personal health reasons I have been unable to carry out my duties. We are blessed with a dedicated committee, passionate about both the present and he future of this hospital, full of new ideas to both fund raise and raise awareness of the importance of this facility.

Sadly this year we lost one of our oldest and dearest past members, Joyce Oliver. Joyce was a true friend to this hospital and a passionate worker for the League of Friends for many decades.

Our fund raising events have been extremely well supported. The nurses did their annual sponsored walk; the rain just about kept away for our cream tea afternoon; the Lodges of Penhellaz and True and Faithfull 318 presented us with a cheque for £1100; family members who had made use of the Jack Johns suite and patient family members sent lovely messages of thanks and generous donations to the League of Friends and despite location difficulties, the Fete was again well supported. We were very grateful for the forbearance of out-patients, staff and supporters and were blessed with good weather. Also Tesco has supported us with resources for events.

We again developed our community links this year with Commander Martin Barlow from Culdrose opening our fete. Wendy and I went to an evening at the base where different local organisations were treated to a tour, refreshments and the viewing of the sunset ceremony. We were invited to take part in many discussions about the future of health care provision in the Helston/Lizard area. Many organisations are working together with medical teams to assess the needs of the community and the most efficient resources needed to meet those needs. We attended the Remembrance Day Ceremony in Helston and the Mayor Choosing Civic Reception.

Mental health is becoming more and more of a concern for health care workers and we are delighted to have as our guest speaker a member of the Sowenna team, Sowenna being the new facility in Bodmin for teenage in-patients. The sensory garden and the general outdoor areas at this hospital play an important part in the well being of both patients and staff. The Helston/Lizard Rotary club and our dedicated gardening chum, "Chuck" have worked tirelessly with committee members to keep these areas looking good. We are very grateful to Wendy and her husband, Hayden, who have provided transport and have disposed of the waste materials. Greater maintenance of large shrubs is now required and the committee are looking into acquiring some professional help to reduce some of these shrubs and make the areas more manageable.

Our main function as a committee is to raise funds to provide resources to make life for both patients and staff function as well as it can. This year the main purchases have been beds and bedside cabinets. Some of the existing beds had been condemned and the hospital was having to hire beds in at considerable cost. With money available and the risk of beds being closed the decision was made by the League of Friends to purchase new beds.

The staff in this hospital are our best resource. My husband had occasion to be resident here for some time and the care was exemplary. Because the local surgeries were unable to continue supporting the hospital with doctors, two doctors are now employed to cover the hospital and this is working extremely well. We say a big thank you to all the staff involved with Helston Community Hospital.

And what of the future? We are a committee feel very optimistic about the future. Very recently a lot of work has been done on the hospital, structural alterations, changes in the use of certain areas more community clinics. This is all positive. The future use of this hospital may not be exactly the same as it has been but we feel there definitely is a future.
Thank you for your support and please spread the word about how important and amazing the facilities are in this hospital for the well being of the community in Helston and the Lizard peninsula.

Heather Gilbert Chairman