Many thanks (From Salisbury Journal)

Many thanks

7:00am Thursday 24th January 2013 in Postbag

YET again Salisbury has shown homeless people living in supported housing in their city have not been forgotten.

Throughout 2012 and into 2013 many individuals and communities have been generous in their gifts to the residents of Sanctuary Supported Living’s three Salisbury hostels: John Baker House, Denis House and Springfield.

Donations of food, clothes, duvets, blankets and toiletries have always been gratefully received, not just at Christmas.

However, it was especially appreciated that donations over Christmas and the New Year included carefully and lovingly wrapped presents for each resident.

At a time when families gathered in their homes for celebration feasts it has been additionally heart-warming that people living away from their families have not been forgotten.

The basics for a shared home cooked Christmas dinner and the extras like mince pies and plum pudding made all the difference.

Even the dogs living here were remembered and enjoyed toys and warm jumpers from the Dogs Trust.

Special thanks also to the congregation of the Salisbury Spiritualist Meeting House who supported John Baker House as their charity for the year, donating funds raised in 2012 at their Charity Demonstration of Mediumship, a huge collection of fresh and tinned food at Harvest Festival in the autumn and Christmas shoeboxes filled with presents for each resident.

The Plymouth Brethren, Trussell Trust, Morning Star and other groups in Salisbury continue to donate much appreciated food, not just for Christmas. So many individuals, from children to retired people, have played a role in helping provide the food these groups distribute. The extra kindness, thoughtfulness and caring spirit shown really do make a difference.

We, in turn, strive to become part of the helping community, through efforts such as giving out donated spare blankets to the street homeless from John Baker House in Rollestone Street.

A big thank you to everyone and best wishes for a happy 2013.

MATTHEW LACEY Manager, John Baker House, Denis House and Springfield

I MUST have been one of the few people to break a leg indoors on Friday morning.

I would like to share how humbled I am by the care and compassion shown by my colleagues in Salisbury Hospice, the porter who took me to the accident and emergency department, the A&E team, from the reception desk to the nursing team, the X-ray team to the support staff, who were mostly night staff who had stayed on in true Dunkirk spirit to keep the service going.

They showed compassion and intelligent crisis planning on the hop. On my way to A&E, I saw our new chief executive Peter Hill, suited and booted, looking very confident and on the case. What a good appointment - he is part of the heartbeat of our hospital and really understands local needs.

My sincere thanks to the staff member who loaned their four wheel drive vehicle to the ambulance service so people could get home. Very special thanks to the ambulance team, Paul and Virginia, who battled beyond the call of duty to get into work, help others get into work and to bring me and others home in very challenging conditions. All with such a smile and good humour.

Salisbury Hospital is defined by the great people who make the hospital what it is. My sincere thanks to you all.

ALISON SEWELL, Salisbury

I WOULD like to say how very grateful I am for the excellent and sensitive care I received from all the staff in Amesbury Suite at Salisbury District Hospital during my recent prolonged stay there.

Also to the emergency services who helped me, and the hospital’s League of Friends who were so kind to us patients at Christmas.

You are stars indeed.

LESLEY ROBERTS, Downton