THE Friends of Okehampton Community Hospital held their annual meeting recently and heard a talk from Dr Paul Nielson on the changes currently in place for the ?Out of Hours? service. Dr Nielson thanked the friends for their help in equipping the new hospital and said they had a right to be very proud of their achievements. He added that the friends had more than a role as fundraisers ? he trusted they would take a keen interest in their role as the patients? friends and would not hesitant about adopting a political role as well. He went on to describe what he felt was a retrograde step in the changes to out of hours coverage following the new contracts for GPs and since the Primary Health Care Trust took over responsibility for cover from 6.30pm to 8am. Since then ? six months ago ? the new arrangements were proving more expensive and the number of doctors available had been cut. Chairman John Marvin thanked Dr Nielson for his interest and support. Mr Marvin also read a letter from the West Country Ambulance Trust confirming it had reversed its decision about withdrawal of ambulance cover in Okehampton overnight. This followed a letter from the friends expressing concern at a retrograde step. During business, it was explained that over the past year £6,328 had been donated in equipment and patient comforts. The income had been £7,224 with a substantial rise in membership income. Members were encouraged to recruit more members, both as subscribers and to help with the trolley service and at fundraising events. Mr Marvin, secretary Mary Rattenbury and treasurer, Martin Perry were all re-elected unopposed. Joan Pauley, president, stepped down having served on the committee since the original League of Friends was established in 1964. She was succeeded as president by Cllr Christine Marsh. Arrangements were made for the coffee morning in the parish hall on Saturday May 14.
