The GO GroupDorset Gastrectomy and

Oesophagectomy support group

Spring / Summer Newsletter 2013

Welcome to the Spring and Summer

Newsletter. Last year, we had several

very enjoyable events that were well

attended and enjoyed by many. We were

also very pleased to welcome several

new members to the group. Our

Christmas meeting had the highest

attendance yet and was a great success.

This year we have again arranged a

variety of events which we hope you will

be able to attend and enjoy. Full details

on page 4. As always we would stress the

importance of letting us know if you are

able to attend so we can organise tickets

and catering accordingly.

Welcome back Emma,

We are very pleased to welcome Emma

our Specialist nurse from Poole back from

her maternity leave in March and would

like to thank Kirsty Yarrow who covered

her post so well during her absence and

attended several of last year’s events. We

would like to wish Kirsty all the best for

the future.

We need your opinion!

As you may be aware, there is currently a

great deal of change happening in the

NHS. The Dorset Cancer Network which

has been in place for over ten years

ceases to exist in April 2013 It will be

replaced by a much larger network: the

Wessex Strategic Clinical Network, based

in Southampton. Wessex is Hampshire

and Dorset combined and the Strategic 1

Network covers other conditions such as

Stroke as well as Cancer This gives rise

to the possibility of altering where some

patients have services for example

perhaps travelling elsewhere for surgery

– we are very keen to get your opinion on

this should it be suggested. As a group

of patients who have had the experience

of undergoing surgery mostly in

Bournemouth, how would it have affected

you if it had been elsewhere? Please let

us know by either writing to or e mailing

Mike Goodman or Jane Wraight (contact

details on page 3 )

Dorset Cancer AdvocacyWe would like to tell you about a new

service: Dorset Cancer Advocacy which

is an independent advocacy service for

anyone over 50 affected by cancer. Here

is a section from their leaflet describing

what they do:

We aim to support you to make informed

choices and decisions about

treatment and care.

We can help you find out whatever you

need to know from cancer specific

enquiries through to what practical help is

available locally.

We support the person with a cancer

diagnosis and also family members,

friends or carers.

Our peer volunteer advocates will:

• Give time and listen

• Offer support and understanding

• Find information and explain it

• Help you make choices

• Speak alongside you

• Look into practical support

Not everyone has family or friends nearby

who are able to help and that’s

where our volunteers can step in.

Problems they can help to solve are:

How do I arrange transport to hospital?

I’d like someone to come with me to my

appointments.

Which agencies can help me manage at

home?

I’d like to sort out these questions I want

to ask the doctor

Is there a local laundry service that will

collect?

My friend is a wonderful help but I’d like a

real heart to heart

Is the treatment I’m starting the best for

me? I’d like to get more information.

The service is free, independent, non-

judgemental and confidential.

To find out more please call us on

0300 111 3303

We realise that this may not be a service

you personally need but want to raise

your awareness of it as it may be of value

to family or friends in the future.

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Buddy system

For several years the support group has

had a buddy system. This is where new

often pre-operative patients can be

introduced to someone who has had the

same operation and recovered. This is

offered to most patients, by their

specialist nurse but is not very often

taken up. We have found that when it is,

it can be very valuable. However much

your Specialist Nurse talks about the

treatments, she or he has not gone

through the experience. There are clear

guidelines and boundaries used for

buddying, for example a buddy should

not be giving medical advice. We have a

small number of buddies and two

waiting to be trained. If this is something

you are interested in finding out more

about, please contact your specialist

nurse.

Committee members

We are keen to try and get a few more

committee members. The Committee

only meet two or three times a year and

the main job is to organise the events

for the year – this work is shared out

amongst them so not too onerous! If you

would be interested in becoming a

committee member, please contact your

specialist nurse.

Web site

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we now have a web-site. We publish the

newsletters on it but would like to know

from you what else you would like to

see on it. Please let your specialist

nurse have your ideas.

Specialist Nurse Contact Numbers

As always, a reminder that your

Specialist nurses are here to provide

help and support and are always

pleased to hear from you.

Mike Goodman – BournemouthRoyal Bournemouth Hospital,Castle Lane East,Bournemouth,BH7 7DW

Tel: 01202 704340Email: mike.goodman @rbch.nhs.uk

Jane Wraight – Dorchester (GO Group Treasurer)Upper GI Office,Abbotsbury Ward,Dorset County Hospital,Dorchester,DT1 2JY

Tel: 01305 255710Email: jane.wraight@dchft.nhs.uk

Kirsty Yarrow / Emma SelbyPoole hospital NHS TrustLongfleet Road,Poole,BH15

Tel: 01202 448739Email: emma.selby@poole.nhs.uk

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2013 Events

Please make sure you complete and return your booking form, or phone or e mail Jane Wraight to confirm your place for all events. This is really important to help us to book the right number of tickets and to cater correctly. Don’t forget to let us

know if you have booked but are then unable to attend.

All Events except the Christmas meeting will have a £5.00 per person charge which is payable on the day please.

Friday 19th April Langton Arms at Tarrant Monkton The Langton Arms Tarrant Monkton, Nr Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8RX. Meet at 2pm for AGM (all members very welcome to attend) or arrive for 3.15 for “Call my Bluff” at 3.30. This is being done by a group who will bring strange objects and oddities for the audience to guess what they are used for and should be very entertaining. This will be followed by a finger buffet at 5pm. And after this, a game of Skittles.

Friday May 17th Abbotsbury Swannary. New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Nr Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4JGMeet at the Swannary (free parking) at 2.30pm to enjoy a cup of tea and cake at their Kennels Restaurant which is at the entrance to the Swannary before going to the Swannary (about a 10 minute walk or there is a tractor ride there costing 50 pence) The cygnets will be hatching and at 4pm there is a mass feeding (for the swans!) so some good photo opportunities.

Friday 12th July Boat trip From Poole to Wareham (Return) Leaving from Fish Shamble Steps, Poole Quay (opp. Poole Pottery) orange kiosk at 11.00am (Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes early) Return ferry time from Wareham 2.30pm. There will be time in Wareham for a look round or some lunch. This is a trip that has been done previously and is always a very enjoyable day.

September 5th Sherborne Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and the home of the Digby family since 1617. So a wealth of history. Meet at 1.30pm to tour the magnificent staterooms in the castle and then wander at your leisure around the beautiful gardens. At 3.30pm afternoon tea will be served on the first floor of the tea-rooms. And the event will finish about 5pm. Full details about the castle and grounds are at: http://www.sherbornecastle.com/

October 18th Stratton Village Hall Near Dorchester – Stratton Village Hall, Stratton, DT2 9WGArrive at 2.15pm for talk for 2.30 – 3.30 Talk by Mr Selwyn Williams on the treasure of the Golden Grape, a shipwreck on Chesil Beach in 1641, with piracy, privateering, Spanish Armada, shipwreck, and a maritime Civil War attack on Weymouth. The talk will be followed by tea and cake.

December 5th Christmas Party Springfield Country hotel Wareham, Grange Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5AL 7pm – 9.30pm As usual we anticipate an entertaining and very enjoyable evening. A light finger buffet will be available during the evening. The traditional raffle will also be held.

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Jane's Granny's Easter biscuit recipe

6oz sugar6oz butter or margarine 10oz self raising flour1egg yolk3oz currentsLevel teaspoon mixed spice

Cream the fat and sugar, add egg yolk then remaining ingredients. Mix to a stiff dough.

Chill well in the fridge for at least half an hour before rolling out very thinly and cut into

circles with pastry cutters.

Put on a greased baking tray or parchment and bake at 400° for approx 7 minutes or

until golden brown.

Sprinkle with caster sugar then cool on a rack. Eat and enjoy!

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GO Group Events Booking form 2013

Event Your Name Number(s) attending

19th April – Langton Arms

17th May – Swannary

12th July – Boat trip to Wareham

September 5th - Sherborne Castle

18th October – Stratton Village Hall

5th December - Christmas party at Springfield, Wareham

Please complete this form and return to Jane Wraight, Upper GI Office, Abbotsbury Ward, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2JY or e mail jane.wraight@dchft.nhs.uk

Please help up to keep up to date

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Did you know this newsletter is distributed to around 200 people? We are always keen to make

sure our members are up to date with all that is happening and know there are many who enjoy

the newsletter but are not able to attend meetings, this is an excellent way for us to keep in

touch with you to share news. If however you are receiving this newsletter and no longer want

to or are getting one by post and are able to have it e mailed, we would like to know as this will

help us to keep our costs down. For any changes, please contact Jane Wraight (Contact details

on page 3)

Please remember this is your group, we are always keen to get feedback and ideas from you

about what you want, what is good and bad, ideas for future meetings and events. If you do

have any thoughts, please either come to the AGM on 19th April to talk about it or let your

specialist nurse know.

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