Patient Participation Group (ALBRAM)

The first correspondence that was sent in order to discuss a meeting for the formation of a Patient’s Group Association was sent out to all registered patients and employees in June 1984.

In total 119 patients signed in and the Inaugural Meeting of the Patients Participation Group was held on the 11^th July 1984 at the Recreation Field Pavilion in Alconbury. Dr R Berrington opened the meeting and explained that the group was an invitation to patients to become more involved in their own health and to ensure that the quality of services received were maintained.  

Various items for discussion took place, Dr P Sackin outlined various ways in which the group could become involved including transport, feedback to the practice on its work, fundraising and organisation of the waiting room and pressure groups.

After a lively discussion a steering group was composed of patient representatives and members of the practice to include Dr Sackin, Julia Wallace-King (Health visitor) and Jean Raglione-Hall.  It was also agreed, by the most votes, that the name of the group would be called ALBRAM, and the first meeting of the Steering Group took place on the 30^th July 1984, so “ALBRAM Patients’ Group” was formally established. (ALBRAM is an abbreviation taken from ALconbury and BRAMpton).

The meeting consisted of Election of officers, the transport scheme was put in place and ways of fundraising was agreed too; these included talks, raffle events, refreshments and items for sale.  One of the main priorities of the group was to establish a transport scheme for patients and this became the transport scheme now known as ALBRAM Car Scheme.  At our peak in 2019, it was calculated that the Drivers had done enough miles to get to Japan. In the year from April 2019 to March 2020 our pool of 30 Drivers provided almost 1000 journeys across the County.

Meetings for the group alternate between Alconbury Surgery and Brampton Surgery and membership is automatically open to everyone registered with the Practice. The object of ALBRAM Patients Group is to benefit patients and staff working in the practices and this was achieved by fundraising, donations and the car scheme. Over the years ALBRAM has gone from strength to strength and the fundraising has done the same.

The group has been successful in buying equipment for both surgeries over the years and listed is some of the equipment: Home BP machines, 24 hr BP machine and cuffs, ECG Machines, Refrigeration, Resuscitation bags, Air conditioning, Examination couches, Anticoagulant machine, Examination Light, Asthma Books, Audiometer, Software upgrade, Auroscopes, Foetal Heart Monitors, Sonic Aids, BP standalone machine, Doppler, Diathermia, Defibrillators, Phlebotomist chair, Peak flow meters, Cryotherapy, Cryocautary, Ophthalmoscope, Glucometers, Spirometers, Hearing test machine, Heavy persons scales, High Backed Chairs, Hot wire Cautery, Cardiac intervention, Hydraulic couches, Syringe driver, Carrying Case and Scales for HV, Lilli care medical Equipment, Tens Machine,  Liquid nitrogen, Trolley, Medical sundries for minor ops, Microscopes and magnifying lamps, Tuning audio forks, Nebulizer, Cobalt light for eye inspection, Warfarin equipment, Wheelchair

The donations we have received from 1984-2021 is in the region of over £140k.

We have also received donations from many companies and families over the past years and this remains the same today but also from families of their loved ones in memoriam, Alconbury and District Show, Alconbury Sports & Social Club, Brampton Churches, Brampton Parish Council, Brampton Thrift Shop, British Heart Foundation, Cambridgeshire County Council, Christmas Cards, Crafts, Grafham Water Lions Club, Hamerton Parish Committee, Hanover Court Fund, Hilary Lodge, Manor House Hotel, Measures Butchers, Mr and Mrs Lamacraft, Mums One Club, Quiz Nights, RAF Wives Club, Rural Initiatives fund, Shire Horse Show, Taywood Manor House, Thursford Group, Upton Garden Gate and of course the Raffles. There are many more names that could be added, and we would like to thank everyone.

Not only do we fundraise for ALBRAM we also stepped up to the mark when the Covid pandemic hit us. Some of the voluntary car drivers and committee once again flew the flag during the pandemic. Some drivers continued to fetch and carry prescriptions to the patients who were “shielding” whilst others, with some of the committee, volunteered to help in the Covid Rollout Programme from January to July 2021.  This was known as the A1 Network covering Alconbury and Little Paxton GP vaccination hubs for patients of Alconbury & Brampton, Buckden & Little Paxton, Kimbolton, Almond Road and Wellside surgeries.

We had every season to contend with, but it did not dampen the hearts of any of the volunteers who volunteered from marshals in the car parks, greeting people, to the hall cleaning the chairs. The comradeship between everyone was incredible and ALBRAM gave 1059.5 hours with other volunteers who gave 1087 hours too.

The Alconbury Hub provided 21500 vaccinations with GP’s, nurses, HCAs and other volunteer teams working within the Surgery. I think we were all proud to be able to all work together as a team.

Our thanks go to the residents of Alconbury & Alconbury Weston for being so accommodating during this period. 

ALBRAM patient group committee has the same amount of committee members from 1984 and consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and 8 other committee members with Dr Duncan Rea and Mrs Melanie Gearing attending as representatives from the Practice to support as needed.

My thanks go to everyone, past and present who has given their time, energy and dedication in helping ALBRAM Patients Group function over the past 37 years, but also to Brampton and Alconbury Surgeries for looking after and caring for all of us during this unprecedented time. 

There are fourteen committee members in total but listed are the principal ones.  Some of the committee are also drivers for the car scheme and coordinators.

We, as a committee meet four times a year in January, April, July, and October.

Our AGM is held in July, and everyone is welcome to attend. We usually rotate between surgeries to enable people to attend.

During the year, we try and raise monies. We would plan to attend the local Brampton and Alconbury fetes and organise two raffles per year in the summer and at Christmas.  Our car scheme also raises funds  from the drivers who donate their donations throughout the year. 

All monies that we collect, as well as donations from patients goes to help buy new or replace old equipment for the surgeries benefiting both surgeries and patients.  

We are very grateful to everyone within the community and patients that support us through the year.  Thank you.