NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2017

Newsletter for Branch meeting on 18^th October 2017 - Please note any information for the newsletter to be passed on to Jan Bridle by the last Saturday before the next meeting; also if anyone has changed their email address or set up a new one could they please let Jan know.

Branch subs   no change from last year at £15 and paid to the treasurer now if not already paid. Please send any cheques, made out to REA Bournemouth, to the above address for John Cusack.

15^th November meeting  This will be a talk on Flying Boats in Poole Harbour by Jeremy Walters

Monthly Informal Lunches   As usual held on the first Tuesday, menu lists on the table at evening meetings. Contact John Cusack for any information or to book/choose from menu if not at meeting. We wish to remind all our members what a lovely social occasion these lunches are and encourage you to join us whenever possible.

Birthdays of Note
We have 3 this month:-  Robert Taylor will be 55 this month, Hank Lawrence will be 75 in November and Mike Herbert will be 85 in November. We wish them all a very Happy Birthday.

Remembrance Day Parade at War Memorial, Poole Park on 12^th November 2017  
Those members wishing to parade please meet by cricket pavilion, Poole Park at 10am.  Bert Martin will be Parade Marshal for the Veterans Parade. Family and members not parading should assemble by the War Memorial in Poole Park by 10.45am. There is some seating available, but you will have to be there early to get one, or bring your own.  Free parking is available in the multi-storey car park at the Civic Centre. The Service of Remembrance and Dedication starts at 10.50 am.

Two Minutes Silence – Saturday 11^th November 2017
The Mayor will also be observing the Two Minutes Silence with a short Service of Remembrance on 11^th September in the Plaza at the Dolphin Centre (bottom of escalators outside Beales) starting at 10.50 am. Following this the Mayor will lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Falkland Square.

VETERANS – IMPORTANT INFORATION IF YOU ARE AWAITING JOINT REPLACEMENT

As a veteran, you can ask for a referral to a specialist Orthopedic Clinc at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital where there is a specialist Veterans Clinic run by Lt Col Carl Meyer.  In one case a veteran applied for a referral on 16 March and on 3 May had a hip replacement, a total wait of just over 6 weeks.  This is a service for Military Veterans, including National service, to have their hip or knee arthritis assessed by Lt Col Carl Jones who is an Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon with16 Medical regiment, 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital. The service is based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7AG. Outpatient clinics are held fortnightly, normally on a Wednesday.

Lt Col Meyer wants to carry out more operations for veterans, but he has two problems: Finding the patients and getting the money from the NHS.  However, the more operations he performs, the more money the NHS will give him, which means the more operations he can perform.

HOW TO ACCESS IT

You must ask your GP to refer you to the VETERANS HIP AND KNEE SURGERY SERVICE at Oswestry, making sure he specifically mentions Lt Col Meyer and ask your GP to include the NHS Issue Code for military veterans AND your service number in the referral letter.

Your records at your GP need to be annotated with the NHS Issue Code for military veterans, take photocopies of your discharge book/certificate, as you will be asked for proof you are a veteran.

Military Veteran Codes

13J1 Military Veteran – 13JY History relating to Military Service – 13q0 History relating to Army service – 13q1 History relating to RN  Service– 13q2 History relating to RAF service  -  13q3 Served in Armed Forces.

Contact Information for Hospital

Email rebecca.ann.jones@rjah.nhs.uk  -  Tel 01691 404344  -  Fax 01691 404067

IMPORTANT   You can all apply to the MOD under the Freedom of Information Act for your FULL Military Service Records (and, in the comments box, ask to include your Medical Records.) This is a free service. There will be reams of computer printouts which you can then keep in a clip file.

Use https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-your-own-records

Forthcoming  Evening  Events 2017

November 15th    -        Talk on Flying Boats in Poole Harbour by Jeremy Walters

December 20th     -        The Swing Easy Duo

Forecast of Events 2017.

09^th November  - Field of Remembrance, Westminster Abbey

12^th November - Remembrance Sunday