Our speaker at this meeting was Gill May (pictured above with Club President Kathy Hobson) who has worked for the NHS in both hospital and community environments since 1997.
Gill attended Southampton University to qualify as a practice teacher for district nurses and moved into commissioning in 2004. In 2019 she was appointed Director of Nursing and Quality as part of the joint management structure put into place to manage and oversee the merger of the former BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs to one BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG.
In an excellent and fast-paced presentation, Gill explained that 1.9 million people live In her geographical area of responsibility. There are 3 acute hospitals, 3 local authorities, 3 community providers, and 1 mental health provider, despite 180,000 people having some sort of mental health problem. 5.56% of the population has diabetes, 156,000 have 3 or more long-term health conditions, and 85,000 over the age of 65 are on 10 or more prescriptions.
Gill moved on to dealing with the Covid pandemic. “In my 25 years with the NHS the last 2 years have been like no other,” she said. “It was around December 2019 when we first heard about this virus in China but we sort of thought it would have no effect on us over here. But within days we found we were dealing with a world-wide pandemic and the pace of change in the NHS in those first few months of 2020 was absolutely incredible.”
Some of the key challenges for Gill were having to increase the capacity of Intensive Care Units, staff working from home, cutting out most face-to-face meetings, increasing the space between beds in the hospitals for social distancing purposes and dealing with incorrect information in the social media.
In August 2020 the call came to make plans to vaccinate everyone and Gill led the team set up to do it. In the space of 2 months 1,300 vaccinators were recruited and a mass vaccination centre at STEAM was in place.
Since then Gill’s team has administered 2,093,075 doses of vaccine and with 85% fully vaccinated the CCG is the second highest in the Country. But, 53,000 people have either not taken up the vaccine or not come back for the booster which is a major concern.
During questions, it became apparent that another big concern is social care. There are currently some 77 beds in the Great Western Hospital occupied by patients who no longer need be there but they cannot be discharged as the social care services do not have everything in place for them. It is Gill’s opinion that social care should be taken in and be under the NHS umbrella.
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We have played a role in a significant global public health achievement as the World Health Organization’s Africa region has officially been certified wild polio-free.
moreRotary’s second major donation, of £208,000, was handed over on 7th July 2021 when local Rotarians visited the Great Western Hospital to view the build progress of the nearly completed radiotherapy unit.
moreSmallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. Let’s make polio the second! Join the fight to end polio with Rotary on World Polio Day
moreBrighter Futures launched their Radiotherapy Appeal in 2015. Today, 7 years later, a ribbon cutting ceremony has taken place at the Great Western Hospital
moreHe's taking part in the Youth Adventure Trust's Virtual Resilience Challenge from 13th to 21st February 2021
more£1286 has been sent from our Emergency Disaster Fund to the Disasters Emergency Committee UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
more£1,250 has been sent to both Prospect Hospice and Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service to help bridge the funding gap both charities are currently experiencing.
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moreCongratulations to the teams from St Joseph’s Catholic College Swindon. The intermediate team (in the picture) was commended and placed joint second by the judges
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moreThe winning team P.G.Events presented with the David Maggs Memorial Trophy to hold for one year by Swindon North Rotary President Mike Helyer
moreClub President Kathy Hobson presents a cheque for £750 to Richard Millard, Chairman of the Trustees
moreAttendees found plenty at the 2018 Rotary Convention to remind them of the fellowship that binds them and the diversity that Rotary embodies
moreTorquay’s Riviera Centre was the venue for the Rotary in Britain and Ireland (RIBI) Annual Conference on 6th April 2018
moreRotarian Terry Williams has been selling his locally grown Christmas trees again and all the proceeds are going to be divided between two charities
moreThe new Horizons College Minibus, donated collectively by all the Rotary Clubs of Swindon and District, has been branded with the Rotary logo and other graphics by the Wootton Bassett based company, PG Events, free of charge.
moreRotarian Terry's Christmas Trees enable the Rotary Club to present £1,225 to the Friends of Angel's Orphanage
moreThe Rotary Club of North Wiltshire (the name was changed to the Rotary Club of Swindon North in 2008) received its charter from Rotary International on 28th September 1966
moreThe Community & Vocational Service Committee is tasked with organising fund-raising events and functions.
moreRotarian Terry Williams' remarkable and unique fund raising effort, living in a ShelterBox emergency tent for a week in the Market Place, Highworth
moreThe Club Service Committee manages the administration of the Rotary Club.
moreInternational, Foundation & Youth Activities Service Committee
moreClub Council
moreExceeding expectations, President Lynn's challenge to 3 club members to Zumba in the Co-op Foodstore raised £700 for Swindon Young Carers.
moreThe Rotary Club of Swindon North charity concert featuring the Swindon Male Voice Choir in St Michael's Church, Highworth.
moreA Charity Dog Racing event with dinner held at Blunsdon Abbey Stadium on 14th March 2015 in aid of the NSPCC
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