The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC)

A Charitable Support Group for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees

The Voice of PLC

February – March 2011
Address: c / o The Mustard Tree Support Centre, Derriford Hospital, Derriford, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH, Devon
Mobile: 07745819828 (text only) Email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://plymouthlc.webs.com

EDITORIAL COMMENT THE PLC FEBRUARY MEETING

I NTERNET Links. If you’re reading this on-line and come

across blue lettering with underlining, then you can click
on these links and be taken directly to another site for more
information on that particular topic.
O UR February Meeting took the form of a tour of the
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BBC Studios in Plymouth on Monday, 7 February. A
fascinating and interesting insight into BBC Radio Devon and
BBC South West Television was had by the eight of us who
attended. Geoff wrote a Letter of Thanks on behalf of the
Chair and all Club Members, to Ms. Janet HOPKINSON of
BBC South West for giving us our guided tour.

FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR

Written by Edward (Ted) BURNETT R AFFLE. No money was raised on the raffle at our
December 2010, January 2011 nor our February 2011
Meetings! The Treasurer is beginning to get a bit
concerned! Liz will be organising Marc h 2011 Raffle.
Dear Friends & Supporters,

Another month has flown by! THE PLC TREASURER’S REPORT

It was lovely to see a new Club Member, Carole CHESHIRE,

accompany us on our trip to the BBC South West Studios in
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Plymouth on Monday, 7 February. The trip was enjoyed by
M ONTHLY Report. The Treasurer, Jean, reports that we
have enough to pay our NALC Fees for 2011 which is
our only known expense at present.
the eight of us who attended. However, one or two of the
ladies were disappointed that David BRAINE didn't hang
around after his Lunchtime Weather Report! Sorry Ladies...
but that's life! (joke).
M ONTHLY Subscriptions. Jean would like to remind
everyone that our Monthly Subscriptions are
voluntary payments. We collected nothing at our meetings
in December, January nor February. Those of you who wish
We’re looking forward to our next Club Meeting at the to do so can pay £1 at the March Meeting and a receipt will
Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre (at Derriford Hospital) be issued only upon request. New Club Members are
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on Monday, 7 March 2011. Do come along if you can as reminded that they should pay their £5 Joining Fee to Jean,
you may find out that you could be entitled to some the Treasurer.
benefits that you were unaware of.
THE PLC SECRETARY’S REPORT
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Yours sincerely, C ALENDAR of Events. A copy of the Club’s Calendar of

Events, including Future Entertainments for the next 12
months or so, is available on our Club’s website. Please
Ted & Liz keep yourselves up-to-date by taking the occasional peek!

The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC) is an Affiliated Member of: The National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC)
In Association with Macmillan Cancer Support
Registered Charity Number: 273635

A Member of The Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (PTSC)

Patrons & Medical Advisors : Mr. W.M. BRIDGER, FRCS - Consultant ENT Surgeon,
Mr. Tass MALIK, BSc FRCS (Gen), FRCS (ORL H&N) - Consultant Otolaryngologist, Head & Neck / Thyroid Surgeon, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.
C ANCER Laryngectomee Trust. Geoff has received a
hard copy of their February edition of their Newsletter
which he’ll bring along to the March 2011 Meeting in case
P LATON Medical Ltd. Geoff recently received a hard,
glossy copy of the January edition of LaryLife, a seasonal
magazine from Platon Medical Ltd. LaryLife is the free
anyone would like to read it and pass it on. Geoff looked at Laryngectomee magazine published every quarter, and is
the website of this Trust and the most recent Newsletter packed with:
available is September 2010! That website is in urgent need
of maintenance!  Laryngectomee interviews
 Readers’ letters

M EMBERS & Friends. Our current Membership Status
is shown in the table below. 

Recipes
‘Great Days Out’
Competitions/prizes and much more.
POSTAL EMAIL TOTAL
Confirmed Members: 6 11 17 If you haven’t received a copy and would like one then
Confirmed Friends: 6 11 17 please fill in the form at this website to receive your free
TOTALS: 12 22 34 subscription: http://www.platonmedical.co.uk/. If there’s
anyone who’s not on-line and would like Geoff to make a

M EMBERSHIP Flyer. Our Flyer needed updating to take

account of some errors in our Club Contact Details.
subscription on their behalf then do please let him know.

Geoff prepared a new version and emailed it in January to

those on-line. Photocopies have also been distributed.
Copies are now available to download from our website but
if anyone has difficulties do please let Geoff know. Geoff
has ascertained from the Mustard Tree Cancer Support
Centre that Ms. Gill DAVIES is the Staff Member responsible
for their outlying Satellite Service. Gill has agreed to
publicise our Club and distribute our new Flyer to those
satellite sites. Gill is now a Friend of PLC.
R ECRUITING. Julia POCKETT, our Speech & Language
Therapist said she would try to contact those
Laryngectomees in the Plymouth Postcode area that hadn’t
taken up our invitation to become a Member. Julie &
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Maggie JARVIS sent out a questionnaire on Thursday, 10
February to all patients who had undergone laryngectomy
surgery at Derriford and also to their carers. No deadline
was given for the replies. But pre-paid envelopes were
supplied to facilitate replies. We are now awaiting the
outcome of this survey.

S PEAKEASY Club, Cornwall. Copies of the January and

February Newsletters have been received and Geoff has

N ATIONAL Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC).

Only by reading the SpeakEasy Newsletters Geoff
learned recently that NALC were holding their General
emailed them out to those on-line. Those not on–line can
contact Geoff should they wish to have a hard copy.

Meeting in May 2011 and that all Club Chairs had been
invited. As PLC had received no information about this,
PLC FORECAST OF EVENTS
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Geoff emailed NALC on Sunday, 20 February to ascertain

M
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the dates of their meetings and also to point out that their ARCH 2011. Monday, 7 March 2011: Club Meeting
website was showing Important Dates for 2010 rather than at the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at 11 a.m.
st
2011. NALC emailed Geoff on Monday, 21 February 2011 followed by Lunch at the Jack Rabbit. This meeting will
to confirm that they had sent an invitation but that they include a Talk by Ms. Denise MARTIN, the Macmillan
would now send another. Geoff is now in possession of the Benefits Advisor at the Mustard Tree.
invitation details and will table them for the Chair at our
A
th
March Meeting. PRIL 2011. Monday, 4 April 2011: A Visit to
Plymouth Central Library Services followed by Lunch
somewhere in the City.
N ATIONAL Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Our Club is a member of this organisation. Ted, as our
Chair, had been sent an invitation to attend their Annual NEWS & GOSSIP
st
Conference on Tuesday, 1 March 2011. Prices started at
£175.50. Ted kindly offered the vacancy up to any Club
Member who wished to attend but applications were
received.
1 47 JOBS Put at Risk At Cash Strapped Derriford Hospital.
This article was published in The Herald on Thursday, 3
February 2011:
rd

ALMOST 150 jobs are at risk

P ENINSULAR Cancer Network. Geoff received a copy of

the Annual Report of the Peninsula Cancer Network
Allied Health Professionals Rehabilitation Group and
and six senior managers have
been made redundant as
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Derriford Hospital seeks to
emailed a copy to those on-line on Saturday, 15 January. save millions of pounds.
Those not on-line and wishing to see a copy should contact Staff in finance, IT, planning,
Geoff. estates, human resources
Derriford-Hospital
and administration are being
consulted over major changes in their departments.

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 2
Hospital managers are looking to cut overheads by more than
20% in a bid to balance the books... and counter huge financial
pressures across the NHS.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Derriford, is
£4.6million in deficit but is hoping to break even by the end of
the financial year.
Hospital bosses said they’re striving to make changes without
hitting front-line services and patient care.
Unions said staff morale is poor, and they’re concerned about
the number of jobs affected creeping up.
Paul ROBERTS, Plymouth Hospitals Chief Executive, said 147
jobs in corporate departments have been put at risk but
redundancies are the last resort.
He said: "We appreciate that this is a time of uncertainty and
anxiety.
"We value our staff and we’re trying to make these changes in a
way that is open, consultative and respectful to them.
But we have to make changes to deliver lean support services
that are fit for purpose in more challenging financial times."
Alongside annual savings targets, Plymouth's health services
are seeking to save around £66million as part of £20billion of
efficiency savings sought across the NHS.
Mr. ROBERTS said: "We’re no different from other NHS
organisations in that our costs, of drugs, pay, new technologies
and so forth are growing faster than our income and we have to
try to reduce our costs in ways that do not impact on quality of
care to patients."
The total number of staff affected will not be certain until all
departments have been reviewed, he said.
"This does not mean we’ll lose 147 members of staff or that we
are planning to," he said.
"There are posts in the new structures for the vast majority of
them.
"Redundancy is the last resort for us... for those people who no
longer have a post, we’re committed to trying to re-skill and
redeploy them."
On top of the back-office consultation, six senior managers have
recently been made redundant, and 28 members of staff left
under a mutually agreed resignation scheme introduced last
year.
Other changes include pay cuts for temporary nurses, external
recruitment being restricted to all but critical clinical posts and
major building projects being put on hold.
Claire JONES, Plymouth representative for Unison, said unions
will be keeping a very close eye on consultation with staff.
The number of jobs at risk has risen recently from 137 to 147...
out of a total 6,485 posts at the hospital.
Ms. JONES said: "We’re very concerned that the numbers are
creeping up. We expect it to creep up further.
"It's unclear what numbers we’re talking about yet because
there's so much work in the Trust going on at the moment to
improve their financial position."
Terry KEEFE, Unite Regional Officer, said: "Morale is pretty poor
among staff because there's been these financial problems for
so long.
"We don't know how many are going to go, but the hospital has to
make a considerable saving and that's likely to translate into jobs."
He said much depends on structural changes and savings across the
NHS, which will impact on the hospital.
"Everything is being thrown up in the air and reshuffled," he said.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
C ANCER League Table Published. A league table has
revealed that the UK comes 22nd in the world for cancer
rates, with Denmark in first place.
The research was compiled by the World Cancer Research Fund
(WCRF) from estimated totals from the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
The table suggested that in
the UK, 267 people in every
100,000 are diagnosed with
cancer every year.
rd
Men in the UK are in 33
place for cancer... compared
with other men across the
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world... and women are 12 in the world.
The number of women in the UK who are diagnosed with
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breast cancer every year puts the country in 11 place.
The WCRF tables showed that richer countries with people who
earn higher salaries have markedly higher cancer rates than
poorer countries.
The tables revealed that the only countries outside of Europe
which made the top 20 were Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand,
French Polynesia, Israel, Canada and the USA.
Professor Martin WISEMAN, Medical & Scientific Adviser for
WCRF, said: "We know that people in high-income countries are
more likely to be overweight, to drink a lot of alcohol and to be
inactive."
"There is strong scientific evidence that these factors increase
risk of several common cancers and these figures show the
effect of this. When you look at the list, it is clear that the
countries that do worse for these factors tend to be nearer the
top."
Source:
http://www.hc2d.co.uk/content.php?contentId=17331
The complete table can be viewed by visiting :
http://www.wcrf-
uk.org/research/cancer_statistics/world_cancer_statistics_o
verall.php
C HARITY Funds New City Dietician. This article was
published in the Plymouth Herald on Wednesday, 9
February 2011:
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CHARITIES have funded a new Derriford Hospital dietician to
improve the quality of care for cancer patients.
Susan RAMSAY has joined the hospital as Macmillan
Dietician Team Leader in
Oncology, Head & Neck cancers.
The National Garden Scheme
(NGS), which raises money for charity through opening
gardens to the public, has funded the new post for
Macmillan Cancer Support.
Plymouth's dietician is one of seven new posts put in place by
£550,000 donated to Macmillan by the NGS.
Susan's role is to minimise the difficulties head and neck
cancer patient have in maintaining adequate nutrition.
Ciarán DEVANE, Macmillan chief executive, said: "We are
extremely grateful to the NGS for their continued support.
3
"Their funding is providing key services in the community
providing practical, emotional and financial support for
people affected by cancer, at a time when the need for help
has never been greater. We are pleased to be continuing to
work with NGS."
Since 1985, more than £12,701,300 has been donated to
Macmillan through the NGS.
Susan is a registered Friend of PLC. Ed.
C OST Of Disabled Badges To Go Up From £2 to £10 to
Beat Fraud. This article was published in the Plymouth
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Herald on Tuesday, 15 February 2011:
MINISTERS have given the go-ahead for a fivefold increase in
the cost of disabled parking badges in Plymouth, writes
Parliamentary Correspondent Nick LESTER.
The hike in the maximum fee councils can charge for a 'Blue
Badge' permit from £2 to £10 will fund a major crackdown
on widespread abuse of the system, according to the
Government.
Transport Minister Norman BAKER has hailed the reforms as the biggest
overhaul of the Blue Badge scheme for 40 years.
The Government points out the rise in charges is the first in three
decades, and argues badge holders will benefit from less abuse, improved
accessibility and better customer services.
While permits provide a vital lifeline to more than 2.5 million disabled
people across the country, it says increasing levels of badge fraud mean
those who genuinely need to use dedicated parking spaces often cannot
find one.
The Government estimates that abuse of the system is costing the UK an
estimated £46 million a year.
The measures, which will start to come into force from April this year,
include providing local authorities with an on-the-spot power to recover
badges that have been cancelled and misused, sharing the issuing
function to cut costs, and taking the eligibility assessment out of the
hands of family doctors and avoid the perception of a bias in favour of
applicants.
Wider use will be made of independent mobility testing paid for by giving
local authorities control of NHS spend on assessments.
Handwritten badges will also be replaced with standard electronic ones
which are harder to alter and forge.
The scheme will also be extended to more disabled children aged under
three years and severely disabled Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
But a decision has been deferred until later in the year on whether or not
to extend eligibility for a badge to people with temporary disabilities
lasting at least one year, pending the outcome of independent research.
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
Transport Minister Norman BAKER said: "The Blue Badge Scheme makes a
real difference to millions of disabled people every day. However, it is
clear that it is in real need of modernisation after forty years without
major reform.
"Such are the high levels of fraud in the current system that 50% of Blue
Badge holders now find it difficult to get a parking space and Blue Badge
fraud is estimated to cost £46m a year.
Dai POWELL, Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
(DPTAC) said:
"These proposals can bring us one step nearer to a fairer and more
consistently applied scheme."
P ROPOSED Cuts to the National Health Service. The
British Medical Association has weighed in on Prime
Minister David Cameron's new health care proposals...
The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the
Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling
about it, but the Neurologists thought the
Administration had a lot of nerve.
The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a
misconception.
Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.
Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while
the Paediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!"
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was
madness, while the Radiologists could see right
through it.
The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided
to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The ENT Specialists didn't swallow it, and just wouldn’t
hear of it.
The Pharmacologists thought it was a bitter pill to
swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a
whole new face on the matter..."
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the
Urologists were p****d off at the whole idea!
The Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas,
but the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say ‘No’.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the
entire decision up to the a***holes in London.
Submitted by GNR
4
H EIMOMED UK. We recently received an email from
Ulla ROHRBECK who’s a Company Representative of
Heimomed, originally based in Germany and
now branched into the UK. Ulla said she
thought it wonderful that there was a
Support Group such as PLC thriving in
Devon! As part of her job, Ulla visits
hospitals and support-groups throughout
the UK. Heimomed not only supply but
also manufacture a wide range of products for
laryngectomees and have been in the market for more than
40 years.
We’ve invited Ulla to give us a Talk at our meeting at the
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Mustard Tree Support Cancer Centre on Monday, 6 June
2011.
Heimomed manufactures and supplies a very attractive
swimming-device for those laryngectomees who wish to
have a go at attempting to swim again. Tom FOOT, a patient
from Weston-Super-Mare bought one recently and took it
on his holidays to Egypt. He is very keen to let everybody
interested in it know how it works. However points out that
it needs an officially-registered instructor to show
laryngectomees how to use it before they are able to
purchase it. This might be worth further investigation for
some of us!
M ACMILLAN Online Community Newsletter.
Macmillan has issued its first ever Macmillan Online
Community Newsletter! They’ll be using this to share news
and events, inform us of any changes coming up and dates
for our diary. They hope we'll enjoy reading it, and ask us all
to tell them how we've done. To sign-up for a copy please
visit: www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/SignUpForOurEnewsletter.aspx
M ACMILLAN in the Community 2011.
celebrate their 100
th
2011 is
Macmillan's Centenary Year and they can't wait to
Birthday with us all. They'll
be upgrading the
Community in line with all
our suggestions and they
think we're going to love
the changes they’ve made.
They'll be updating us all soon in our News Blog and as
always, they’'d love to hear our thoughts. For more news on
the Centenary click the link above or go to:
www.macmillan.org.uk/Aboutus/WhoWeAre/Cen...,CGGG,3DERI2,ZC4T,1
Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com
N EW Group to Support City Cancer Patients. This article
th
appeared in The Herald on Monday, 24 January 2011.
A FORMER Army Warrant Officer whose voice box was
surgically removed due to cancer told his story to raise
awareness of a patient support
group.
Geoff READ, of Keyham, breaths through a hole in his neck and
speaks with the aid of a prosthetic device following the radical
operation.
The 62-year-old urged others not to ignore the symptoms of
throat cancer, after he waited several years before visiting a GP.
Geoff is secretary of the Plymouth Laryngectomy Club (PLC), a
new group which offers support to patients and their families.
There are around 40 people in the Plymouth area who have
undergone a laryngectomy, which involves removal of the
larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and
oesophagus.
Geoff said "The operation is life-changing but it shouldn't hold
people back.
"Members of the PLC support each other, and the group acts as
an information exchange.
"Unless you are a laryngectomee, or a partner, nobody else will
quite understand the issues and problems. Some patients lose
confidence. After the procedure other people can treat you
differently."
The group meets once a month and holds social events, giving
people the chance to discuss how they have coped with issues
arising from the procedure.
Geoff said "For instance, when I take a shower, if water enters
the hole in my neck and runs down, I'm going to drown.
"It wasn't until I went to one of the meetings that I found out
you can get a £2 tube device so you can breathe in the shower."
Geoff was in the Army for 25 years before he left in 1988 and
spent a further 15 years training people to fly Tornado aircraft
in Saudi Arabia.
In 2005 he helped set up a private security company in
Baghdad.
It was then that he began repeatedly getting a sore throat and
losing his voice.
He waited until December 2008 to visit his GP.
He was urgently referred to Derriford Hospital and underwent a
total laryngectomy in January 2009.
After intensive courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he
had to learn to speak again.
He has been told the treatment has been successful.
Geoff thanked the "fantastic, dedicated" staff at Derriford,
especially those on Lynher ward.
"Without them, I wouldn't be here. It's as simple as that," he
said.
The PLC, run by volunteers, has been set up the suggestion of
specialist staff at the hospital.
Geoff lives with wife Jean, treasurer of the PLC.
The Plymouth Laryngectomy Club, which has 15 members,
usually meets on the first Monday of each month, either at The
Mustard Tree Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Derriford
Hospital, or for a social trip.
For details contact Geoff on (01752) 563800 or email
saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk or log on to: plymouthlc.webs.com/
5
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Our grateful thanks to The Devonport Regeneration
Community (DRC) Partnership for their assistance in
reproducing copies of this Newsletter.

st
Tuesday, 1 March 2011

St. DAVID'S DAY (Christian)

Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the
patron saint of Wales.

th
Saturday, 5 March 2011

St. PIRAN'S DAY (Christian)

Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was
born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend
that Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a
white cross of pure metal.

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Monday, 7 March 2011

CLEAN MONDAY - BEGINNING OF LENT (Orthodox) (Christian)

The start of the Great Lent for Orthodox Christians. This day is called
Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter.
"Don't be a recluse.
th Get out and enjoy life!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Laryngectomees are quiet for
SHROVE TUESDAY (Christian) only a short time."
Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of Pancake
Day comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food
that could not be eaten during Lent.

th (Quoted from:
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/otolaryngology/
Health%20Information/CARE_OF_YOUR_LARYNG
ASH WEDNESDAY (Christian)
ECTOMY%20STOMA.pdf page 4)
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season
marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.

th
Monday, 14 March 2011

COMMONWEALTH DAY
The Plymouth Laryngectomy
th Club
Thursday, 17 March 2011

St. PATRICK'S DAY (Christian) (PLC)

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.

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Sunday, 20 March 2011

SPRING EQUINOX - EOSTER (Pagan)

Spring Equinox celebrates the renewed life of the Earth that comes with
the Spring.

th
Friday, 25 March 2011

ANNUNCIATION (Christian)
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would
give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls nine months before Christmas. – A Charitable Support Group
for Plymouth Cancer Laryngectomees –
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Sunday, 27 March 2011

2011 CENSUS

BRITISH SUMMER TIME BEGINS

Contact The Voice of PLC Newsletter Editor Geoff Read on (01752) 563800 or 0774581928 (text only)
or email: saudigeoff@yahoo.co.uk, or go to PLC website at http://plymouthlc.webs.com 6