Over the last few months, our patients, families and friends have continued to show support for this charity and our kidney patients. To all who have donated funds, on behalf of RFHKPA committee members, we thank you.
The summer months are a busy spending time for the RFHKPA and your kind donations have been used to help make events like our Summer Garden Party a really enjoyable event for those attending. Committee members provide all of the food, preparation of the food and supplying gifts that make up a fabulous raffle.
Donated funds help pay for the hiring of the banqueting suite, the entertainers and other costs such as the photographer to record the happy faces!
Other events include the recent day trip to Broadstairs, when we filled two coaches and provided two ambulance vehicles for wheelchair patients. All patients were also given lunch money as part of the package.
In December, we organise our regular day out for 70 patients and families to a pantomime. This year they will enjoy a spectacular panto, “Mother Goose” at the Hackney Empire. The show will be packed with “every ingredient for the perfect festive family treat. Expect larger than-life characters, loads of laughs, outrageous costumes, dazzling dance moves, incredible live music and plenty of heroes to cheer and baddies to boo!”
There will also be a Christmas dinner party for about 100 patients. Separately we provide Christmas party snacks for patients dialysing at selected satellite units.
Social workers provide guidance to patients with hardship problems
Our small but dedicated social work department plays a vital part in helping our kidney patients with hardship problems. When there are reasons why they can’t get financial help for regular sources, they
turn to the RFHKPA for a quick response to solve a problem. We have a sub-committee of six trustees of the committee who have to review requests and decide on whether we can offer assistance.
In many cases we have to organise the ordering and payment of required items for patients. Over the last year we have helped patients who have got into difficulty with utility services or rent arrears, needed help for travel to and from dialysis units whilst on holiday (we can’t pay for holidays), patients who have a justified reason for requiring a replacement TV, washing machine or a fridge, those that want a computer to find work (we buy reconditioned computers) and patients who need immediate temporary funds; all on the recommendation of a social worker.
