RM Magazine - autumn 2012 - The Royal Marsden

foundation news
wo Royal marsden
governors showed their
community spirit by
taking on important roles in the
London 2012 Olympic games.
Patient governor and sports
writer Vikki Orvice had the
honour of carrying the Olympic
Torch 300 metres through
the streets of Barnsley as the
Torch Relay made its way to
her home city of Sheffield.
and Public governor Tony
Hazeldine helped the games
run smoothly when he took on
two important responsibilities:
being a London ambassador
and a games maker.
Vikki, who has covered
Olympics in Sydney, athens
and Beijing as a sports writer,
said: “never did i imagine that
i would one day get the chance
to follow in the footsteps of
Olympic 400m champion Cathy
patient governor
Vikki orvice carries
the olympic torch
getting in the
olympic spirit
Freeman, who lit the flame at
my first games in Sydney,
and carry the torch myself –
especially given that five years
ago, i was diagnosed with
secondary cancer.
“But thanks to treatment
at The Royal marsden, i am
five years in remission – a year
for each of the Olympic rings –
and after being nominated
by London 2012, i carried
the flame 300 metres.”
Vikki’s family, including her
82-year-old mother and her
husband ian, who was also
successfully treated at The
Royal marsden, watched with
pride as she carried the flame.
Vikki said: “When i looked
up at the flame when it was lit
in the cauldron at the Olympic
Stadium in London, i proudly
remembered that i helped
get it there.”
I never imagined
that I would one
day get the chance
to carry the torch
Vikki OrVice, Patient GOVernOr
Tony was incredibly busy
during the Olympics with his
two roles. as a games maker,
Tony was in the Workforce
Operations unit at Horse guards
Parade, providing backup and
motivation for the teams of
volunteers who helped make
the games happen.
and as a London
ambassador, he was on hand
to welcome visitors from around
the world, provide information
and answer any questions. He
was based in Stratford and was
part of the ‘Flying Squad’ – if
there was a problem, he was
one of a number of people who
would go to help.
Tony said: “it was a
wonderful experience and
a great honour to be part of
London 2012, and to do my bit
to help make sure everything
went smoothly.”
Health and Social
Care Act 2012
Coming into effect earlier this
year, the Health and Social
Care act is the most extensive
reorganisation of the structure
of the nHS to date. among
other things, it means the
abolishment of Primary Care
Trusts and Strategic Health
authorities. in their place are
Clinical Commissioning groups
partly run by gPs.
The Royal marsden has
actively engaged governors
as the bill went through
Parliament. now that it has
become law, it means a
number of changes to the way
in which the Trust is governed,
including to the role of monitor,
the regulator of Foundation
Trusts, and the responsibilities
of governors.
at a Trust briefing on the
act, governors explored the
implications of the act on their
role to hold the non-executive
Directors to account for the
performance of the board of
directors, and to represent the
interests of the members of
the Trust and the public.
governors are working with
the Trust to review and update
its constitution and governance
structure to ensure that the
Council is fit for purpose. a
further update will be provided
in the next issue of Rm.
Next Members’ event
The next Members’ event will take place in November
in Sutton, giving Members further insight into how
the Trust is working to improve patient care in the
community. Members will hear from Adam Doyle,
Divisional Director, Private Patients, and former
Divisional Director, Sutton and Merton Community
Services, about the benefit that the integration of
Sutton and Merton Community Services has had at
the Trust. Please contact the Foundation Trust Office
to register your interest on 020 7808 2844.
28 RM magazine