The local League Group in Exeter were meeting on 1st June 2005. The Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire group were meeting in Harpenden on 3rd September 2005.

The President reported on her visit to Bordeaux with the two great nieces of Catherine Elston. The conference had attracted 400 people. She had presented a doll in the RLH uniform to the Director of Nursing there. A full report would be in the 2005 League Review

Among the deaths reported were those of Joyce Pickford in August 2004, Alison Harvey (nee Goldhawk) in February 2005 and John Hartgill, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in March 2004.

The Honorary Officers were reelected. Barbara Thompson, the Honorary Treasurer would shortly be retiring from her post with the Trust. She was thanked for her hard work in maintaining links between the League and the present staff.

The League currently had 1772 members. This at a time when leagues of nurses in other London hospitals were having problems in maintaining an active programme.

A short report from Catherine Fenton the Director of Nursing and Quality was read. It outlined the reorganisation of the directorates and the roles of the two Deputy Directors of Nursing:

• Nursing and patient experience;
• Leadership and learning.

There were now eight consultant nurses.

The rebuilding programme had received the 'go-ahead'. There would be 24-bed 'pods' with some specialist wards. The Luckes and Cavell Homes would be demolished along with the Pool and Facilities Management blocks. John Harrison House would be converted to offices and others rented in Prestcott Street. The Alexandra Home would be demolished and a temporary dining room provided. There would be no on-site staff accommodation.

The new Pharmacy and Pathology Block was nearly finished as was the New Medical School. In time the Front Block will be the administration offices. The Old Medical College Building will remain.

The 'Agenda for Change' work included competencies. The Trust had put in a bid to be an early implementer of the Computerised Patient Record (CRS) to replace the Patient Administration System. One challenge was to balance the Freedom of Information Act requirements with those of the Data Protection Act.