Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Magazine 2013

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complimentary copy please take one

QAHH The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Magazine Supporting physically disabled ex-Servicemen and women of the past, present and future

qahh.org.uk

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The Essential Spring Clean When you spring clean your home consider having a ‘spring clean’ of your legal and financial papers at the same time. This may be something you’ve been putting off, but bear a thought for your family who will be the ones left to sort everything out after you have passed away. The exercise could prove to be invaluable for it will definitely save time and in some cases money if your family will need to employ professionals to assist with administering your estate. Here are my top ten practical steps to dying tidily:1.

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Shred all out of date paperwork Only keep tax records going back seven years Store all passbooks, share certificates and deeds safely Record usernames and passwords for your digital assets e.g. laptop/PC, mobile phone, online store accounts and subscriptions securely 5. Ask someone to look after your pets 6. Buy a funeral plan and include details of your wishes in your Will 7. Tell your children where your Will is stored 8. De-clutter your house and loft and make gifts of unwanted items (i.e. charity) 9. Keep your address book up to date 10. MAKE A WILL and keep it up to date By doing the above not only will it be therapeutic it will also provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your affairs are in order.

For further information please contact Kai Lei on 01403 253282.

Spofforths can organise home or hospital visits.

www.spofforths.co.uk

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“Without QAHH I’m certain I wouldn’t be alive today” QAHH Resident

Contents About QAHH ..........................................................5 Meet the Servicemen we support ..........................7 Can we help you? ..................................................8 How can you help our Servicemen ........................9 Community support ..............................................10 Your business can help QAHH ..............................11

Contacts & addresses The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 4LJ Switchboard: 01903 213458 Fundraising: 01903 218444 Fax: 01903 219151 website: www.qahh.org.uk e-mail: fundraising@qahh.org.uk REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1072334

Supporting our future Servicemen ........................12

Contributors Scott’s Story ........................................................13 How your donation can make a difference ............14

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this magazine. Thank you in particular to our residents, families and supporters who have given us permission for their stories, comments and photographs to be reproduced in this magazine.

A big thank you to our advertisers QAHH and Manner Media Solutions would like to thank the many advertisers whose generous support has enabled us to publish this magazine at no cost to the Hospital Home. When responding to an advertisement, please do say that you read it here.

Publishers: Manner Media Solutions Ltd www.mannerms.co.uk Graphic Design & Print: www.pandacreativeltd.co.uk

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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“When the NHS rehabilitation came to an end, this was the only place that provided the therapies I needed” QAHH Resident

Welcome to the QAHH magazine!

he Queen Alexandra Hospital Home (QAHH) is a national Hospital Home for disabled veterans, supporting our country’s Servicemen since 1919.

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QAHH is a remarkable institution with an inspiring history. As casualties in the First World War reached appalling numbers, the

Hospital Home was founded in London to cope with the medical and surgical demand from this devastating conflict. In 1933 QAHH moved to a property in Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex.

For over 90 years our charity has provided first-class support for ex-Servicemen and

women, and with British troops returning injured from current conflicts, QAHH will undoubtedly be instrumental in the care and rehabilitation of veterans for years to come.

Now being 1 of only 3 establishments of our kind in the UK supporting personnel from all three Services, we provide nursing, care and rehabilitation to give the Servicemen and women their dignity and independence back, and allow them to participate in hobbies and learn new skills in a warm, supportive environment they can think of as their home.

We receive no funding from the government and work hard to raise the £1.3m it costs each year to provide these essential services to our remarkable veterans. Many of our residents have lived through terrible conflict and served our country with little thought of their own lives – it is our mission to offer them the quality of care they both need and deserve.

Thank you for taking the time to read our magazine and we hope you’ll visit us and see for yourself just how special QAHH is.

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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“The Staff are cheerful, helpful and they are always there” Dixie-Long stay resident

About QAHH “It is the mission of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home to provide a multidisciplinary approach for the care and rehabilitation of those with Neurological and medical disabilities, predominantly for those who have served with HM Forces.” nyone who has served in HM Forces at any time or in any capacity and also immediate family members of someone who have served for our country is eligible for admission to QAHH.

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We accept residents aged 18 upwards and have 60 beds for both permanent stays and short term respite care for two to four weeks at a time.

Working in the gaps between healthcare and social services, QAHH is a charity that offers a range of accommodation, nursing care and rehabilitation for physically disabled ex-Servicemen and women from anywhere in the UK.

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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What we offer AHH has a long history of providing pioneering and cutting edge nursing care. While most of the residents are longterm we also welcome ex-Servicemen and women for convalescence after hospital treatment or provide short-term respite care, with nursing and medical treatment.

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The nursing care is organised on the basis of a multi-disciplinary approach that aims to keep the focus firmly on the resident.

Through the assessment procedure we are able to ascertain the different levels of nursing care our residents require. There are three different levels of nursing care; low, medium and high dependency. One of our prime aims is to always maintain a home-like environment, supported by high quality nursing, professional therapy and rehabilitation programmes.

In 2011 we were accredited with a Commend Pass on the Gold Standard Framework (GSF) and End of Life Care. QAHH has been delivering care for the dying for many years but this award recognizes and publicly acknowledges the high standard of care at QAHH. We have the capacity for 60 beds, of which 22 are single ensuite rooms and 38 rooms which are single and twin rooms, all of which were refurbished between 2009-2011. In 2012 we completed the refurbishment of two large bathrooms and shower rooms which now feature state of the art bath and washroom facilities.

QAHH core facilities include: Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy all complimented by a Social and Recreational department.

QAHH is also recognised as leaders in our field of caring for those with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

ABI has dramatically varied effects and impinges on every part of human life: physically, intellectually, behaviorally and emotionally. This can result in a person having difficulty controlling, coordinating and communicating their thoughts and actions.

While the outcome of the injury depends largely on the nature and severity of the injury itself, appropriate treatment and rehabilitation play a vital role in determining the level of recovery and the person's quality of life.

Our Matron previously worked for the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability and has developed a highly trained team of nurses to work with ABI residents. We are therefore welcoming increasing numbers of our residents who have difficulties with communication following a stroke, neurological impairment or degenerative condition, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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Meet the Servicemen we support clean, the food is really good and there is plenty of it. The day trips you don’t get in any other home. I loved them. I went on river trips, for lunch and even to Buckingham Palace for their garden party. I think my favourite thing about QAHH is the Social and Recreation department – I really enjoyed that. We did activities, games, sports, made collages and I made a good friend in Gordon who sat next to me” The biggest achievement Graham made in his 3 months at QAHH however, was in the physiotherapy department. Graham left able to walk using a frame. “QAHH has done me a world of good. It’s thanks to the physios for putting me through it that I’ve done it. It’s not been easy but it’s easier now – I never thought I’d walk again but now I can even walk up the stairs”.

Graham will be missed at QAHH but QAHH’s primary aim is to help their residents lead a more independent life and returning home is the greatest achievement possible. Graham left saying “It will be nice to get home to my family but I will visit. You’ve all been so kind and done all you can for me and I would like to thank you. We proved them wrong!” raham is a familiar face in Worthing, working at his father’s greengrocers on Brighton Road since leaving school. Following 2 years national service, fighting in the Canal Zone with the RAF, he served people their fruit and veg until a stroke hospitalised him at the age of 78.

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Graham was left unable to stand, his hands shook constantly, his sight deteriorated and his hearing was impaired. Doctors told him he would never walk again. In April 2012 Graham transferred to the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, having tried other nursing facilities and as soon as he arrived he felt at home.

“I was astounded – there’s nothing like it.

Everyone is so kind and I can’t praise them enough. I can’t fault the nursing. No one has ever been cross or annoyed. It’s comfortable,

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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Can we help you?

Are you ex-Service or a spouse, civil partner, widow or widower of anyone who has served, and need some support with care, nursing or rehabilitation?

If you are we could be able to help! Please contact us for an informal chat, or perhaps visit QAHH and see how unique and special the facilities are here. n any given day at QAHH, residents are learning to walk again in our physiotherapy department, stroke victims are finding their voice in occupational therapy and veterans who gave their life to their country, are being cared for on our wards.

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The passion and dedication of our nursing staff is poignantly expressed in the many testimonies that we receive from residents and their families each week.

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14 single and 12 shared rooms.

Call alarm system Television point Telephone socket

Life Style • Gardens • Raised gardening beds Sun balcony terraces Luxury Coach for outings Housekeeping and laundry service Computer room and Skype

• Library • Chapel Meals • Freshly cooked on site meal provision • Dietary preferences • 3 choices of dishes at each meal • Residents meal suggestion scheme Additional Residents services • Newspapers and mail delivery and ordering • Pay phone telephone • Hairdressing & Chiropody service • Coffee Shop with Wi-Fi • On site doctor’s surgery If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in being a resident at QAHH please telephone 01903 213458 or email ceo@qahh.org.uk

After a visit to QAHH we hope that you will be inspired to choose to be one of the recipients of our care through residency at QAHH. Amongst our core services QAHH has a variety of other facilities that make it an exceptional place to reside in: • Peaceful seaside setting • Variety of care packages-respite, intermediate care, long term care, palliative care • A Multi-Disciplinary approach towards the care and rehabilitation • 24 hour nursing care • Speech and Language Therapy and access to a Neurophysiologist • • • •

Resident focused care plans Return to independent living Comradeship Residents forum

Quality accommodation • Airy bright modern rooms • Well-proportioned bedrooms • Overhead tracking systems • Pleasant external views • 22 single, en-suite rooms

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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How can you help our Servicemen? ur facilities truly are in a class of their own and the small but dedicated fundraising team at QAHH work tirelessly to ensure these services are here now and for future ex-Servicemen, women and their families. We receive no government funding and must raise over £1.3million a year to provide the highest stand of care that our country’s Servicemen and Women deserve.

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Something for everyone…..come and join us We hold a range of events throughout the year, including our annual Open Day, Christmas Bazaar and Carol Concert. We also work in partnership with various

organisations to hold events in aid of QAHH. QAHH Open Day Each year, the second Saturday of July sees hundreds of visitors attend the QAHH family Open Day. Amongst the attractions are a military band, cake stall, our famous bottle stall along with food, drink, musical entertainment, dancing, crafts, grand prize draw and many other activities.

If you would like to volunteer at the event, sponsor the event, have a stall, or perform please phone 01903 218444 or email fundraising@qahh.org.uk

Challenge yourself for our veterans If you are looking for a challenge then look no further! Our challenge events include; • Brighton Marathon • Trek the Inca Trail • Pedal to Paris • Conquer Kilimanjaro • Conquer the Great Wall of China So what are you waiting for – call the team on 01903 218444 or email fundraising@qahh.org.uk for more information today!

Please visit www.qahh.org.uk to see our planned events.

Magazines | Newsletters Catalogues | Brochures | Folders Leaflets & Flyers | Manuals Business Stationary & Corporate Identities Start-up Websites

PROUD TO SUPPORT QAHH

big enough to deliver... ... small enough to care 39 Norway Street | Portslade-by-Sea | East Sussex | BN41 1GN T: +44 (0) 1273 429 755 | E: enquiries@mannerms.co.uk

www.mannerms.co.uk

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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“Since my retirement I have been a volunteer at QAHH twice weekly for well over 20 years. In this time I have been able to appreciate the high standard of nursing and care provided for the residents, and the feeling that it is essentially a 'Home' as well as a Hospital” QAHH Volunteer

Community support volunteering for QAHH is rewarding and challenging, and knowing that you are helping to make a difference is a great feeling.

If you are interested in volunteering for QAHH please contact us on 01903 218444 or email fundraising@qahh.org.uk Some example volunteer opportunities at QAHH include: • Social Media volunteer to help with Twitter and Facebook • Befriender volunteers • Fundraising volunteers • • • • •

here are so many community groups that support us by raising money, volunteering, donating their expertise, offering gifts in kind or simply visiting the residents.

We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity that is shown to QAHH so a huge thank you to everyone who has donated in one way or another – you play such an important part in the lives of our residents.

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Research volunteers Event organisers Leaflet distributors Office volunteers Gardeners

We encourage our local community to not only join in our fundraising events but to design and undertake their own fundraising activities. We can provide a fundraising pack for businesses, schools or community groups who are interested in putting on an event, holding a raffle, or taking on a challenge in aid of QAHH. We can also provide posters, collecting buckets and tins, banners, balloons and fundraising leaflets to help your event along!

Please contact fundraising on 01903 218444 or fundraising@qahh.org.uk for further information.

You can help our Servicemen!

Volunteers give priceless support to our residents through a variety of roles.

Whatever your background, you’ll find that

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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Your business can help QAHH!

AHH is proud of the corporate relationships that have been built both locally and nationally over the years with organisations whose values often reflect our own.

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With your help we can make a real and lasting difference to the lives of disabled veterans.

We are seeking organisations and corporations with a desire to support these brave men and women who have served for their country.

Please consider supporting QAHH by: • Encouraging employees to spend a day volunteering with us • Spreading the word about our services/events to your clients and colleagues • Sponsoring one of our fabulous events • Holding a fundraising day • Making a donation towards our work If you think your company could help the residents, we would love to hear from you.

We welcome all forms of support no matter how big or small.

Please contact 01903 218444 or by email to fundraising@qahh.org.uk to discuss your ideas today!

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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“QAHH is truly unique. The warmth, friendliness and dedication of the staff will always be remembered” Resident’s family member

Supporting our future Servicemen aking a Will is one of the most important decisions you can make, and making decisions about the division of your assets after you have gone can be stressful. Providing for your loved ones is the most important consideration to be taken into account but, having done so, would you consider supporting The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home in your Will?

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Leaving QAHH a gift in your Will enables us to make a life-changing differences to deserving disabled ex-Servicemen and women. By making a bequest to QAHH, whatever size, you can ensure that the brave and courageous Servicemen of today are given a better quality of life.

There are several ways of leaving a legacy and for more information please call us on 01903 218444 or email fundraising@qahh.org.uk for more details If you would like to add The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home to an existing Will, you can use a codicil. Adding a codicil to your Will means there is no need to change the terms of your current Will. It simply adds a new instruction. Please contact QAHH if you would like a Codicil form or talk to your local legacy advisor to add a codicil to your Will.

Please call us or visit our website www.qahh.org.uk for more information.

Proud to support

Queen Alexandra Hospital Home studio@pandacreativeltd.co.uk

www.pandacreativeltd.co.uk

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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“When I came here I couldn't walk or move my arms and I am walking now with a stick and I am starting to use my arms which is absolutely excellent for me” Scott - Respite resident

Scott’s Story cott, 47 was brutally mugged in Brighton in 2011. He was leaving a newsagents when the attacker struck him with a blunt weapon across the head leaving 14 pieces of skull lodged in his brain. The mugger stole £60, his watch and mobile phone but Scott says, more than that, they stole his life. Scott was left in a critical condition after suffering a subdural haematoma. He woke unable to walk, he needed a tracheotomy to breathe and couldn’t speak. He had little movement in the right side of his body and needed hoisting in order to transfer from his chair to his bed or the toilet.

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Scott arrived at QAHH in March 2012 and in the first months he made incredible progress.

Scott was able to breathe, eat and drink independently. His speech dramatically improved and with four physiotherapy sessions a week, Scott learnt to walk 15 metres and climb 12 steps.

Scott was in pain every day but said ‘I will beat it. They ruined my life but I will get it back. The physiotherapists here are magic – they taught me to walk and climb stairs. I can wash myself now - gradually I’ll get back to normal’.

Scott’s skull was caved in, something he was very self-conscious of and a fall could’ve killed him as he had nothing protecting his brain. In August Scott had surgery needed to replace his skull cap, which alleviated the pressure on his brain, which was compressed in the left side of his head.

Scott was born in Holytown in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 1981 and served for 9yrs in the Mortar Battalion and C. Company. Scott was promoted to Sergeant after serving in Northern Ireland, Somalia and the Falklands.

Whilst recovering at QAHH, he enjoyed living alongside other ex-Servicemen. ‘The residents are great. We have a lot in common and can talk shop!’

After leaving the Parachute Regiment, Scott enrolled at Brighton University and studied to become a registered general nurse. He worked at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and became an ITU specialist. Scott said; ‘The health care assistants are fantastic. I worked in the nursing profession for twenty years so I’ve seen everything and I can’t speak highly enough of the staff here – the care is brilliant’.

Scott worked hard with the staff at QAHH and as a result was able to return to independent living in 2013. It was with mixed feeling that we said our goodbyes to Scott, wishing him all the best for his future.

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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How your donation can make a difference £10 Will provide arts and crafts material used in our Social and Recreation department enabling residents to participate in creative hobbies, improving hand-eye co-ordination, and increasing their sense of achievement and fulfilment.

£25 Will increase a resident’s independence by providing a cookery lesson to help re-learn lost skills and adapt to living with their disability.

£33 Will help a resident become more mobile by providing a Physiotherapy session to increase strength and balance.

£46 Will increase residents wellbeing by purchasing plastic folding trestle tables to enable us to hold social events such as our annual summer BBQ day outside.

£74 Will pay for essential wheelchair maintenance for all residents each month, 90% of whom are wheelchair bound.

£130 Will prevent social exclusion by funding our Social and Recreational department to open at a weekend. For residents without regular visitors, this allows them to remain social throughout the weekend and participate in arts and crafts, quizzes, games and other activities in a supervised and supportive environment.

For more information please contact 01903 218444 or by email to fundraising@qahh.org.uk to discuss your ideas today!

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The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. A remarkable charity, caring for remarkable people.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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Security No’s

Office Bearers President: HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy KG, GCVO

Chief Executive: JMA Paxman JP Director of Nursing and Operations: V Walker RGN RMA JP

Vice President: The Lady Sarah Clutton DL

Contact QAHH General Enquiries - 01903 213 458 Fundraising - 01903 218 444 Fax - 01903 219 151 General Enquiries: ceo@qahh.org.uk Fundraising: fundraising@qahh.org.uk

Patrons:

Major General TA Boam CB CBE Sir P Bottomley MP R Brett Esq Mrs Judith Buckland MBE DL Rear Admiral RO Irwin CB David Jacobs CBE DL Dame Vera Lynn DBE The Hon Nicholas Soames MP AD Tenant Esq F Wilson Esq N Witchell Esq R Thornley Esq The Mayor of Worthing I Eady Esq Brigadier W Shackell CB The Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper

Trustees: C Field Esq. JP – Chairman Mrs J Annis – Deputy Chairman M Walker Esq. FCA JP – Chairman Finance Committee Dr P Hughes FRCP, R Jordan Esq Air Vice-Marshal P Millar CB Captain C Pile RN A Price Esq. JP J Williams Esq. Ruth Taylor

Address The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 4LJ Website: www.qahh.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheQueenAlexandraHospitalHome Twitter: www.twitter.com/QAHH You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/TheQueenAlexandraHH Registered Charity Number: 1072334 A company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England No: 3646570 Would you like to join our community?

We produce a bi-annual newsletter for all our supporters and donors. It provides information on service development, fundraising activities and events at QAHH. If you would like to receive our future newsletters please email fundraising@qahh.org.uk and include your name and address.

The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home. Multidisciplinary nursing care in action.

Tel: 01903 218444 Email: fundraising@qahh.org.uk Web: www.qahh.org.uk

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