George Marsh Sickle Cell Centre, St Ann’s Hospital St Ann’s Rd N15 3TH Open Meetings Every Second Sunday of each Month 2pm – 4pm Mobile Contact: 07508 908549 10am – 4pm Mon, Wed & Thurs Email: sicklecellcause@gmail.com
Please Donate https://www.paypal.me/SCCAUSE
www.sicklecellcause.com www.healthenhancementproject.com
Sponsored by Healthy Living International Ltd
Ambassador:
Ms. Judith Jacob
SO NOW THERE TAKING THE GEORGE MARSH CENTRE Home to the Sickle Cell Community since 1987 The sour lack of respect, understanding, decency, empathy and care for Sickle Cell patients continues to live happily and well especially by the powers that be living in the penthouse suite of the NHS. I’m going to keep this issue personal as there will be a time when a unified voce will be heard, but for now it’s about how I feel about the bureaucrats that first took away our Sickle Cell Ward at the North Middlesex Hospital and now they are forcing their way into removing the George Marsh Centre from the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia community and make claim that it’s about money. First, let’s remember the physician, himself, the namesake of the actual center, Dr. George Marsh. I was fortunate because I was one of his patients, I first met him when I was around 12 years old as doctor and patient at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Tottenham. I don’t remember seeing him often, but I remember him vividly and this is because his gentleness and soothing way of speaking gave a semblance of relief which was comforting when I would experience excruciating sickle cell crisis, to this day I believe he loved me and wanted the very best for me; not every doctor I’ve met at that time or since possess his natural way; he had set the bar very high indeed and It was truly sad times in the sickle cell community when we heard he had passed. It was a few years later, around 1987 that I’d heard about The George Marsh Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Centre. I remember it was exciting times because not only was our Dr. George’s name being honored in the community but also, we were to benefit from the first ever purpose built center for every aspect for the care of the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia affected in the whole of Europe and here it was, brand new, fully functional with knowledgeable caring staff in the heart of Tottenham, serving patients from the boroughs of Haringey, Enfield, Barnet and surrounding areas. I had always believed that the center was an initiative of the Government and NHS; finally addressing the needs of especially the more financially challenged Sickle Cell community as well as ensuring the works and memory of Dr. George Marsh would live on, so didn’t enter my mind that it would ever be taken away especially with the knowledge that the North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton alone serves over 900 sickle cell patients, with hundreds others being cared for under the other hospitals in the catchment area. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and my adoration of Dr. George went up 100% when I found out that it was his personal initiative and not a government gift. Dr. George himself is the reason why we have this center but sadly he passed away before the building was completed. Please click this link to read a brief interview with Beloved Sickle Cell Nurse of over 20 years, Sickle Cell Advocate, Founder of Enfield & Co Founder of Haringey Sickle Cell Support Groups; Mrs. Suzanne Treasure. http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/4862420.sickle-cell-anaemia-campaigner-is-a-real-treasure/ Over the years, I would hear that there was talk of the George Marsh Centre being given to other health groups or being closed completely, this I found to shocking to be believable; I mean ‘they wouldn’t! Would they? Click here to Register & Subscribe to Sickle Cell Cause Action & Support Group: Registration Form
George Marsh Sickle Cell Centre, St Ann’s Hospital St Ann’s Rd N15 3TH Open Meetings Every Second Sunday of each Month 2pm – 4pm Mobile Contact: 07508 908549 10am – 4pm Mon, Wed & Thurs Email: sicklecellcause@gmail.com
Please Donate https://www.paypal.me/SCCAUSE
www.sicklecellcause.com www.healthenhancementproject.com
Sponsored by Healthy Living International Ltd
Ambassador:
Ms. Judith Jacob
Could they be so callous? Are they trying to kill us off? Already Sickle Cell is not taken serious even within the housing and social benefits departments and we had already campaigned and lost the fight when they took away our Sickle Cell Ward ‘T6’ at the North Middlesex hospital, causing much distress and trauma especially when our lives are under threat. Sickle Cell & Thalassemia patients have very low immunity and are susceptible to infection, so being placed in areas, (wards), where infection is rife will heighten pain and cause crisis and organ failure, even someone with the common cold is a life threat to a sickle cell patient…this they know and sadly choose to ignore. The purpose of this post is primarily because I am in shock causing much anger, because today it’s been brought to my direct attention that it is indeed factual that they have made the decision to take the George Marsh Centre away from the Sickle Cell community and give it to another health group, one I add has national and international support from many avenues so although deserving of a space does not mean they are more deserving than the Sickle Cell & Thalassemia affected and they can afford to lease, rent, hire or buy a space elsewhere. As I said, this post is me speaking for myself as I believe our community needs to be made aware of what is happening as soon as possible. When our research is complete our committee will be able to update facts and figures as to the situation for our community to also be included and made aware. They say the reason for whatever they are planning is due to a lack of money within the Sickle Cell budget; I’ve asked key members of our committee to research all the facts as we need to keep our center. However, as I’d said previously, for years we keep hearing that the center is to close, this propaganda over the years has led people in the community to believe that the center was no longer accessible, resulting to the center not being used as it once was, this I believe was a deliberate ploy to ensure that there is reason on paper for the George Marsh Centre to be removed from the Sickle Cell community.
I’ve noticed that for some reason there isn’t many stories in the media that reports on the necessary works, impact and difference the George Marsh Centre has made over the years, the staff has received awards for their services, but I cannot even find a picture on google of the center, nor the staff neither past nor present, not even a picture of Dr. George Marsh himself…… What does that tell us?? http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/1706256.sickle-cell-patients-meet-mp/ DAVID LAMMY 2007 http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/507955.mothers-anguish-inspires-daughter/ ME 2004 I promise that SC Cause will investigate this situation deeper & with urgency, our advocacy department will update our supportive community as and when we have new information. The Fight Is On!!
Written by Samantha Greaves Founder & Group Coordinator SC Cause Friday 9th February 2018
Click here to Register & Subscribe to Sickle Cell Cause Action & Support Group: Registration Form