ENQUIRIES AND CORRESPONDENCE EMAIL: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com Our Facebook Page: f
Please visit our video animations page (funded by The Friends) which contains a number of short patient information films relating to many eye conditions and their treatment by clicking here (opens in a new window).
Watch an example video animation about cataracts by clicking here
Watch an example video animation about cataracts by clicking here
Ground floor entrance to Acute Referral Clinic and main Eye Clinics
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The Sight Loss Adviser's desk in the main Eye Outpatients Department
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First floor corridor and entrance to Eye Wards, Day Case Unit, operating theatres and administrative offices
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Recent News:
Barton-On-Sea Golf Club donation:
Lis, on behalf of The Friends, receiving the extremely generous cheque for £14,000 from Sandy Jones on behalf of the members and friends of the Barton-on-Sea Golf Club.
Earlier this year The Friends made a significant contribution towards the Bournemouth Juba Vision 2020 Link Paediatric Ophthalmology Specialist Course, Nairobi, July 2018.
In July this year Henrietta Holmes-Smith, Senior Orthoptist from Bournemouth Eye Unit and I travelled from the UK to Nairobi in Kenya to run a training course in collaboration with Consultants at the University of Nairobi. We were honoured to be joined by the highly regarded Paediatric Ophthalmologist Narman Puvanachandra from Norwich University Hospital.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Friends for their generous contribution without which the course could not have gone ahead.
The aim of the course was to provide specialist training in Paediatric Ophthalmology to delegates from South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Burundi along with Consultants and Trainee Ophthalmologists from Kenya.
The teaching was mainly patient-based in clinic and theatre. Narman was an excellent teacher who has the ability to explain complex problems in a straightforward understandable way. Likewise Henrietta gave excellent demonstrations of squint assessment in children and helped the delegates gain confidence in this difficult examination.
In addition to clinical teaching, the UK and Kenyan teams gave lectures on many relevant childhood eye conditions. This included retinoblastoma, a childhood eye cancer which is treatable if diagnosed early. Kenyatta hospital in Nairobi is a regional centre for retinoblastoma and treats children from many African countries.
An addition for this year's programme was the Royal College of Ophthalmology “Training the Trainers” (TTT) course. All consultants are involved in training junior doctors and medical students, but rarely receive any formal training in teaching skills. I delivered the TTT course to the Consultant delegates. It was greatly appreciated and, as a result, they planned to make changes to their future teaching and training practice.
As well as observation of advanced squint surgery techniques, Consultant delegates had the opportunity to practice these techniques on model eyes. Later in the week, they taught the new techniques to the Trainee Ophthalmologists using teaching methods they had just learned on the TTT course. This reinforced their own learning as well as put their teaching skills into practice.
Feedback received was very positive. 95% overall thought all aspects of the course were good or excellent. Here are some delegate comments on what they liked about the course:
“It was simplified and very easy to understand. The tutors made it fun. Not too serious.”
“Learning and evaluation of orthoptics, I appreciated the teaching and simulation in general. Please organise more sessions if possible”
“[simulation surgery training] A great way to get hands-on experience. I've never performed [squint] surgery before.”
“The comprehensive teaching that wraps up paediatric ophthalmology as a package”.
Thanks to the Friends of the Eye Unit, 20 Consultants and 40 Trainees from 6 countries are not only returning to their hospitals with improved skills in treating children with potentially blinding eye conditions, but they are also better trained to pass on those skills to other doctors in the future.
Ben Parkin Consultant Ophthalmologist, Bournemouth Eye Unit
A short video (with sound) explaining the laser and digital photographic equipment recently purchased for The Eye Unit by The Friends:-
New appeal launched at the 2018 AGM to raise £20,000 to purchase a Corneal Specular Microscope for the Bournemouth Eye Unit
This is an advanced high power microscope which looks in great detail at the innermost layer of the cornea (the endothelium).
It would be a vital new piece of equipment to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring, and ongoing management of corneal conditions.
Any donations will be most gratefully received and can be made by the following methods :-
Please click on our Friends Donation Page if you would like to contribute.
Please click on our Friends Donation Page if you would like to contribute.
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Amount raised towards the Specular Microscope as of 30th November 2018:- |
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Download an Appeal poster here
April 2018 "Spot the number" Fundraising event towards the Laser Appeal :-
Square 25 was pre-selected by a member of the public. We were delighted to send a cheque for £50 to the person who paid £2.00 for this square.
Many thanks to all who took part in this fund raising game.
The 2017 Laser Appeal has now ended, the laser has been purchased by The Friends and is in use at The Eye Unit.
Thank you to all contributors.
SEEING AI - An App by Microsoft Corporation which is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.
Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to describe nearby people, text and objects. The app has a number of features, including speaking text as soon as it appears in front of the camera, providing audio guidance to capture a printed page and reading handwritten text. The app is an ongoing research project and as the research progresses, more channels may be added.
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Promotional Table, November 2017.
Our promotional Stall in the Hospital Atrium was held in early November. We raised £180.00 from Raffle sales and a Tombola. We were ably assisted by both Committee and non – Committee members - thank you all for this invaluable help. Apart from fund raising it does enable us to meet and talk to a variety of Hospital “people”, both patients and staff and thus help raise the “Friends”profile. |
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Membership - Thank you to all who paid their subscriptions at The AGM and especially to all of you who have paid outstanding subscriptions. Please keep your membership up to date. If you have not paid for 2017/18 yet you can leave it in our post box in Outpatients. Do ask us for a Gift Aid form if you would like to effectively increase your subscription by 25% at no cost to yourself or you can download the Gift Aid Declaration pdf file here. Click here for Membership page for more details on how you can make payments.
FRIENDS AGM 2017
Our 25th. Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday July 13th. 2017 in the Education Centre at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. We were joined by over 60 “Friends”, members and guests including Abigail Daughters, The Director of Operations for Specialities, representing the Trust Board.
The Speaker this year was Head Orthoptist Julie Cartledge, who gave an illustrated and interesting talk on “Orthoptics through the ages, including driving and vision”.
Once again the Catering Department provided us with a delicious buffet, which was enjoyed by all.
Our “25th. Anniversary” silver themed raffle was won by one of our new Life Members.
Thank you all for your continued support, we hope to see you at next year’s meeting on Thursday 12th July 2018. (Please note change of date previously given from 5th to 12th July 2018).
Members and generous donors -
You can increase the value of your gift or membership subscription at no cost to yourself if you are a UK Taxpayer. HMRC will add 25p for each £1 of your gift or membership.
We can make your gift S. T. R. E. T. C. H further and work harder.
We can make your gift S. T. R. E. T. C. H further and work harder.
Please contact us for full details at: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com
You can download the Gift Aid Declaration pdf file here.
You can download the Gift Aid Declaration pdf file here.
We welcome you to the Friends of The Bournemouth Eye Unit
We hope that you will enjoy our new web site and that it will introduce you to the support The Friends give to patients and staff from resources to research.
Membership of the Friends is open to all patients and their families, carer givers, staff and their families and supporters of the Eye Unit at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The AGM marks the start of the Friends' year and takes place early in the summer of each year.
Why not contact us by email: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com and we will send you a membership application form. A lifetime subscription is £25.00 or, if you prefer, an annual payment of just £3.00 per annum includes all newsletters and a light buffet and guest speaker presentation at our summer AGM.
Click here for more details on becoming a member of The Friends.
We hope that you will enjoy our new web site and that it will introduce you to the support The Friends give to patients and staff from resources to research.
Membership of the Friends is open to all patients and their families, carer givers, staff and their families and supporters of the Eye Unit at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The AGM marks the start of the Friends' year and takes place early in the summer of each year.
Why not contact us by email: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com and we will send you a membership application form. A lifetime subscription is £25.00 or, if you prefer, an annual payment of just £3.00 per annum includes all newsletters and a light buffet and guest speaker presentation at our summer AGM.
Click here for more details on becoming a member of The Friends.
Why support the Friends?
Your support will contribute greatly to the work of the Friends in their fundraising, publicity and planning. Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit enjoy supporting one another by sharing social events, exchanging information and learning about the valuable work of the Eye Unit.
Where and when do we meet?
The Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit meet once a year at their Annual General Meeting. This is held in the Education Suite at Bournemouth Hospital. A light supper and animated conversation are enjoyed during the early part of the evening. The formal business meeting reports on the work of the Committee throughout the year, detailing resources and research projects supported by fund raising activities. The evening continues with an entertaining, enthralling and educational presentation by Guest Speakers who introduce us to their link with those with sight difficulties.
Who represents the Friends?
The Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit are led by their President Mr David Etchells FRCS FRCOphth (recently retired Bournemouth Consultant Ophthalmologist) and represented by a Committee of twelve.
Your support will contribute greatly to the work of the Friends in their fundraising, publicity and planning. Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit enjoy supporting one another by sharing social events, exchanging information and learning about the valuable work of the Eye Unit.
Where and when do we meet?
The Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit meet once a year at their Annual General Meeting. This is held in the Education Suite at Bournemouth Hospital. A light supper and animated conversation are enjoyed during the early part of the evening. The formal business meeting reports on the work of the Committee throughout the year, detailing resources and research projects supported by fund raising activities. The evening continues with an entertaining, enthralling and educational presentation by Guest Speakers who introduce us to their link with those with sight difficulties.
Who represents the Friends?
The Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit are led by their President Mr David Etchells FRCS FRCOphth (recently retired Bournemouth Consultant Ophthalmologist) and represented by a Committee of twelve.
Artwork, Visual Field machine and Eye Day Surgery Unit - all funded by The Friends
Click on photos to enlarge:-
Click on photos to enlarge:-
Newsletter
The Friends publish a newsletter three times a year, keeping members up to date with the latest developments. It is sent to all members by post, or electronically (see Newsletter tab on the left of this page). Read it on line with a screen reader or request a Braille copy. We will be delighted to help you access our latest news.
Members, do you know that you can read our Newsletter on line? We print each issue using a large font which you could adjust to suit just you on any device.
Please send a message to: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com and we will add your name to our growing list of e-readers. You would be helping The Friends of The Eye Unit by reducing our postage costs.
The Friends publish a newsletter three times a year, keeping members up to date with the latest developments. It is sent to all members by post, or electronically (see Newsletter tab on the left of this page). Read it on line with a screen reader or request a Braille copy. We will be delighted to help you access our latest news.
Members, do you know that you can read our Newsletter on line? We print each issue using a large font which you could adjust to suit just you on any device.
Please send a message to: friends2eyeunit@gmail.com and we will add your name to our growing list of e-readers. You would be helping The Friends of The Eye Unit by reducing our postage costs.
Wendy Wade - Sight Loss Adviser
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I would like to introduce myself to you as the new Sight Loss Adviser in the eye unit at the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospital. You may have already seen me in the outpatient’s eye clinic, chatting with patients and their families. My role is to help promote the local and national services and charities that are available to VIP’s (Visually Impaired People), so that people do not feel isolated, alone or not knowing how, where and who can support them. Becoming a VIP can be life changing, but there are many opportunities and support that can help make the journey easier, fulfilling as well as maintaining as much independence as possible.
I was registered as partially sighted thirteen years ago with Stargardts disease, a genetic form of macular dystrophy which causes loss of central vision. Prior to starting work at the eye unit I worked for Action for Blind People, part of the RNIB, as a support administrator. This role, along with my personal experiences, and now employed by the RNIB, has provided me with a wide range of skills, information and knowledge that I am finding very useful in my current role. |
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I wish to thank the RNIB, The Friends of Bournemouth Eye Unit, along with Dorset Blind Association, for their continued support in funding this important role.
You can find me in the eye clinic on the following days and times:
Monday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Tuesday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Thursday 9 am – 1.00 pm
Friday 9 am – 4.30 pm
I can be contacted on my work mobile 07936 045511 or email me at: wendy.wade@rnib.org.uk
Please come along and say hello whenever you are in the eye department, and if you have any questions or require any information, please do not hesitate to ask.
Monday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Tuesday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Wednesday 9 am – 4.30 pm
Thursday 9 am – 1.00 pm
Friday 9 am – 4.30 pm
I can be contacted on my work mobile 07936 045511 or email me at: wendy.wade@rnib.org.uk
Please come along and say hello whenever you are in the eye department, and if you have any questions or require any information, please do not hesitate to ask.
How we have spent some of our funds:
We have been delighted to receive a number of legacies which have made a significant difference to the support we can give to the Eye Unit. These substantial donations have enabled enhanced cataract and other state of the art equipment to be purchased.
£60,000 has recently been spent on five pieces of medical equipment to enhance the work of the Eye Unit:
A 3D stereo camera, a super-quad laser treatment contact lens, two exophthalmometers and a contribution to a camera for use in fluorescein angiograms.
A 3D stereo camera, a super-quad laser treatment contact lens, two exophthalmometers and a contribution to a camera for use in fluorescein angiograms.
Staff of the Acute Referral unit with their new 'slit lamp' donated by The Friends of the Eye Unit:
£10,700 has also been spent on four pieces of medical equipment to enhance the work of the Eye Unit : an indirect ophthalmoscope, a Keratotomy set, eye care Pro-tonometer (to measure eye pressures) and medicine cabinets.
Pirates Patch: Calling all Pirates! 20p from you and me.
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This year The Friends of The Eye Unit are saving 20p coins in Smarties tubes. Each filled tube, which would contain £12 in coins, will help us buy equipment for the Eye Unit. Would you like to join our campaign and fill an empty Smarties tube this summer with donations from your family and friends?
Put your name on a label on the tube and pop it into The Friends post box in Outpatients next time you visit The Eye Unit.
There will be a PRIZE for the Pirate who collects the most !
Happy holidays to all The Pirates. Have fun in the sun.
Pirates
Children who attend The Eye Unit at Bournemouth Hospital are invited to join the “Pirates”, a Junior section of The Friends of The Eye Unit. This group was set up for patients under sixteen years of age and also welcomes their siblings. They all receive a welcome pack of hat and scarf and badge and a birthday card each year. Many of you will have children or grandchildren; why not enrol them in The Pirates’ Group? Membership is a one-off fee of just £1.00. Application forms are at the Reception Desk in Outpatients, we will be delighted to enrol new members into the Pirates’ Group.
Children who attend The Eye Unit at Bournemouth Hospital are invited to join the “Pirates”, a Junior section of The Friends of The Eye Unit. This group was set up for patients under sixteen years of age and also welcomes their siblings. They all receive a welcome pack of hat and scarf and badge and a birthday card each year. Many of you will have children or grandchildren; why not enrol them in The Pirates’ Group? Membership is a one-off fee of just £1.00. Application forms are at the Reception Desk in Outpatients, we will be delighted to enrol new members into the Pirates’ Group.
Train Travel
Accessible stations and Stations Made Easy
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) have produced maps of the mainland National Rail network that provides at-a-glance information about the accessibility of many stations.
Sometimes it can be helpful to have an idea of what a station looks like before you get there. Stations Made Easy allows you to plan a route around a station. Links to Bournemouth and Poole stations follow:
www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/BMH/details.html
www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/POO/details.html
Discounts
If you have a disability you may be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard.
If you do not have a Railcard and you are blind or partially sighted and travelling with a companion, or if you use a wheelchair, you can get a discount on Anytime tickets.
GDPR Statement
The GDPR came into effect on 25th May 2018. The Friends of The Bournemouth Eye Unit hold records of members' names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. These can only be accessed by the Trustees of the Charity. We do not use them for anything other than administration and they are never shared with any third party, NHS provider or any other Charity or Ophthalmic related researcher or commercial business.
