The Board of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust and the Trustees of the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal unveiled the design for the new diabetes Resource Centre at a buffet lunch generously hosted by The Ship Hotel, Weybridge on Monday, 22nd October.
The planned two storey, state-of-the-art Resource Centre will be located at the entrance to St. Peter’s Hospital and will serve the Ashford & St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust catchment area. £150,000 is needed to bring the Appeal to a successful conclusion and achieve the goal of improving the quality of diabetes care for patients living in Surrey and West Middlesex!
Benefits to the Community
The Resource Centre will benefit Type 1 and Type 2 patients of all ages by offering integrated diabetes treatment, education and research. It will become the ‘spiritual home of diabetes’, a ‘one-stop-shop’ for diabetes care and the base for Clinicians (Consultant Diabetologists/Endocrinologists, Pump Therapy Specialists, Diabetes Specialist Nurses, Podiatrists and Dieticians) to hold out-patient clinics. Raising awareness of this escalating condition within the Surrey and West Middlesex community will lead to prevention, early detection, management and monitoring of the disease. The Resource Centre will enable a range of educational initiatives to be offered to support the newly diagnosed as well as patients with long term conditions, together with their families and friends. Staff will provide emotional support and practical advice to families (including diet and nutrition) coping with this complex condition.
Appeal Chair, Clive Thompson CBE announced, “Over the last 4 years the contributions of industry, charities, bequests and community projects have raised almost £600,000. 24,000 patients per annum with the condition were predicted to be seen at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust by 2010 – that number has already been reached!!!! Therefore, we cannot afford to wait! Whilst the original plan was to build a new ‘centre of excellence’ we are now going to modify an existing building located in the grounds of St. Peter’s Hospital. This will save time, money and meet all of the objectives of the Appeal.”
The Chairman of The Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal Clive Thompson CBE receives a cheque for £1,500 from the Egham-based Procter & Gamble’s Community Matters Manager Brian Perry at the launch of the “Final Push!” for the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Centre.
The architects have created a design based on inputs from future users. Planning permission will be applied for shortly and we are ready to give the go-ahead for work to start in spring 2008. Everything looks good, and we will have a new resource centre to house the ‘world of diabetes’ in winter 2008.
To bring this far-sighted Appeal to a successful conclusion and satisfy the aspirations and high standards of the future users, another £150,000 is needed. Donate now to help us to make a truly positive impact in the way diabetes care is offered thereby making a real change in the lives of diabetes patients and their families.
The “Final Push” to raise the remaining £150,000 for The Stephanie Marks Diabetes Centre was launched this week (Oct 22). Seen here at the event are (left to right) are Regional Sales Manager for Novo Nordisk Chris Field, whose pharmaceutical company has contributed £28,000 to the appeal together with Appeal committee member Avril Surridge, Vicky Luxton – the mother of Type 1 diabetic 12-year-old Heathside School pupil Bethany and Consultant Diabatologist and Endocrinologist Dr Mike Baxter who has spear-headed the Appeal.
Please make your cheque payable to The Stephanie Marks Appeal and send it to The Fundraising Office, The Studio (SDU), St. Peter’s Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 0PZ. Alternatively, visit our website www.stephaniemarks.org.uk to donate securely on-line using all major debit & credit cards.
