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Amber-Lilli Laidlaw – making excellent progress
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Help across the ages
A previous edition of MQ introduced the
oldest recipient of support from the New
Masonic Samaritan Fund as WBro Bill Stone.
At the ripe old age of 104, Bill underwent
cataract surgery courtesy of the Fund. At the
other end of the age spectrum a new record
has been set for the youngest recipient.
At the tender age of 20 months, after
many months of repeated ill-health, Amber-Lilli Laidlaw was diagnosed with ‘glue-ear’.
The required treatment was not available on
the NHS in under six months, leaving her
and her exhausted parents, facing many more
sleepless nights.
Having now undergone surgery, funded
by the NMSF, to insert grommets in both
ears and to have her tonsils and adenoids
removed, she is making excellent progress.
Finally free from the effects of constant ear
and throat infections, doctors are now able to
treat some of the allergies that have impacted
on her young life. Such has been the
improvement that she has managed to enjoy
an ice cream without any adverse reaction.
Help across the medical need
Over the last year the NMSF has continued to
fund treatment for a wide variety of medical
conditions. The vast majority of the support
required continues to be, not surprisingly, in
areas that are perhaps appropriately associated
with ‘fair wear and tear’.
Hip and knee replacements remain the
major source of expenditure with cardiac
surgery not far behind. However, in response
to the constantly evolving developments
within medical science, the range of
support requested from the Fund continues
to increase.
Following a successful initial trial funded
by the Grand Charity, the NMSF continues
to support individuals who are unable to
access the drugs they need to help with
cancer and degenerative diseases.
A number of applications have recently
been supported on behalf of individuals who
have a desperate need to lose considerable
amounts of weight.
One such applicant has already lost in
excess of eight stone in weight following a
stomach-banding operation funded by the
NMSF. Details of a joint venture with the
RMBI to fund Respite Care are provided
elsewhere in this issue.
Despite the steady increase in the average
age of the Masonic population, and the
increasing scope of the support available,
it remains clear that many people still do
not know what the NMSF may be able
to do for them.
Anyone with an identified medical need
who is unable to afford their own private
medical care, and is faced with a long wait
for treatment on the NHS, should consider
making an initial approach to the NMSF.
As far as the Fund is concerned a long wait
is three months for general surgery or two
months for cardiac surgery.
Support is available to Freemasons, their
wives, partners, widows and dependants.
With only a few exceptions, funding is
available for most treatments that are licensed
for provision via the NHS, but are either not
available without delay or are not available
within a certain geographic area.
Emergency treatment is not supported by
the Fund and, except in exceptional
circumstances, funding will not be available
for treatment that has already taken place.
If you would like to know more about
the support available, please contact the
Fund on 020 7404 1550 or visit the website
on www.nmsf.org
Chart showing treatment type
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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