The Duchess of Cornwall visited Frome Medical Centre recently, where she saw first-hand the work of Frome community through groups and volunteers joining together to support one another.
Through this approach, the whole town has grown in capability to respond with humanity to friends, neighbours and fellow residents and make the town a better place for all. This approach is known as Compassionate Frome: the Frome model of enhanced primary care.
Frome Medical Centre reports, “During the visit, Her Royal Highness met a variety of groups who provide services to the community, including the health connectors and volunteer community connectors, members of The Hub, which was set up by the practice to identify patients who might benefit from this approach, as well as other local support groups and services. She also met with members of the Talking Café and chatted with them over a cup of coffee.”
Frome Medical Centre senior GP partner, Dr Helen Kingston, set up the project with Jenny Hartnoll, service lead for Health Connections Mendip (HCM) in 2013.
Dr Kingston said, “We recognised that wellbeing is more than simply the absence of disease. Loneliness and isolation can exacerbate and lead to health problems. Relationships matter to us all. We set up Compassionate Frome to connect people to support networks, groups and services throughout Mendip. We mapped out the services on offer in Mendip and recruited a team of health connectors to signpost people to services across the area – from hearing loss support, exercise classes and befriending services.
“Gaps in services were identified and the Health Connections team worked with our community to address these unmet needs. They were able to set up talking cafes and support groups for people with specific health issues such as dementia, COPD and macular degeneration. As a result of this focus on wellbeing and building capability and networks of support, we have observed the benefits this brings to health with a reduction in emergency hospital admissions.”
Frome Medical Centre says, “Others who met Her Royal Highness were some of the Couch to 5k runners who were preparing to embark on their run. This running course targets people who have mild anxiety or depression and aims to combine mental health as well as the physical benefits that come with exercising, and some health walkers who will just be returning from a walk, which they do to help combat isolation and have the chance to make friends.
“There was special recognition for Mr Gerald Franks who set up the Frome and District day centre lunch club in 2000. The club offers a hot meal and friendship to older people who are unable to cook and take care of themselves. The Duchess of Cornwall presented him with an award in recognition of his service to the community.”
Duchess of Cornwall visits the Frome Men’s Shed
THE Duchess of Cornwall made a visit to Frome Men’s Shed as part of her visit to recognise the “Compassionate Frome” programme. The initiative connects people to support networks, groups and services throughout Mendip, and has resulted in a reduction in emergency hospital admissions.
She visited the Men’s Shed on 30th January after meeting people at the Frome Medical Centre.
The Duchess took time to meet and chat with all of the 25 Shedders who were there. The Shedders commented on how easy she was to talk with, how down to earth she was, and how she was genuinely interested in what they were doing.
Patrick Abrahams, chair of the Frome Shed, said that all the Shedders commented on how welcoming Camilla, and all her staff and security were during the visit. He said, “Her staff said that they thought that the Shed was full of so many wonderful characters and were pleased to see so few “suits”. They appreciated the warm welcome and sense of community that they felt in the Shed workshops. Camilla commented on the amount of laughter she heard during her visit.
“Camilla chatted to Jan (aged 70), one of the Shedders who was learning how to re-cane a chair. Jan, one of the women who comes to the Men’s Shed, said it was fun meeting Camilla. Jan explained how she liked to benefit from older people’s experience – they both agreed that it was getting increasingly difficult to find older people to learn from.
“Ron, the Frome Shed President, said that she asked him quite a few questions about the jewellery box he was making, and he commented on how Camilla was more knowledgeable on woodwork than he was expecting.
“Camilla gave encouragement and best wishes to two Shedders – Bern and Peter. Bern was making a scale model of cladding that he is hoping will be used to turn shipping containers into attractive looking low-cost housing. Peter is making a thatched dolls house for his granddaughter – and is struggling a little with the plans.
“Camilla was fascinated by the two coracles [small light-weight boats] made in the Shed. She asked how the Shedders learnt to make the coracles. Tony and John explained how they were made and then raced against the Welsh in Carmarthen.
“On leaving, Camilla was delighted with the gift of a 1/10th scale model of one of the coracles as a souvenir of her memorable visit to the Frome Men’s Shed.”
