At our AGM our speaker was Mr Norman McGregor Edwards the new Director of Health, Strategy and Performance of the Heath Services Division of the Department of Health and Social Security

He informed the meeting he was conducting a survey amongst Groups, and asked the Friends of the Manx Diabetes Centre and all present to contribute.

We prepared a paper at his request which dealt with the retention of the Manx Diabetes Centre, Diabetic Children, Waiting lists for Diabetics, A Strategy Group with Proper Budgeting, The Prosthetics and Orthotic Clinics, The No Shows, The Elderly; the real “Care in the Community”, Rewards for long term services to hospital staff, the Discharge process from Isle of Man Hospitals, The E.H.I.C. Insurance, and Proposed system for implementation to eliminate waiting lists.

In its conclusion we stressed that the DHSS present Agendas for saving monies is Flawed, is Unacceptable and what's more is Unaffordable.

I will only touch briefly on the Prosthesis Audit, as this has been done in our leading article, suffice to say that who would, other than our DHSS, take as gospel a survey from 34 people, and then support a £332,750 specialist service to the answers of these 34 people without the input of the most important factor into this equation THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

The whole thing just beggars belief.

Many more things have occurred during the year which is impossible for me to deal with here, so I will deal with them at our AGM next May.

Needless to say that your Group has continued to champion the cause of the Manx Diabetic Patient, and will continue to do so until such time as the DHSS wakes up to the reality of what the medical profession and ourselves are talking about, and they recognises and accepts the excellent facilities that all the Manx people enjoy at Noble's hospital which is crucial to, and a credit to our Nation, our Island and our community..

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members for their support during the past year and all those that have supported us with funding which makes our objectives possible.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year, in happiness and health with your families and friends.

The Last Laugh

A husband and wife were in the Kitchen and she was cooking breakfast She puts two eggs into a saucepan with water and said to him:

“Darling quick make love to me now”'

He being a dutiful husband that indulged his wife in every way, promptly obliged. When they finished she went to the cooker and took out the two eggs and put them into two egg cups. The husband was very intrigued with her urgent request, so he asked, “I'm not complaining, but what's this all about then darling?”

She replied.

“My egg timer has broken”.

The Committee of the Friends of the Manx Diabetes Centre would like to wish all our members and readers a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year