MEMBERS of the public have been invited to virtually attend the annual general meeting (AGM) of Gobowen’s Orthopaedic Hospital next week.

The meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams at 2pm on Thursday, September 24.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the AGM was unable to take place in its usual format, with restrictions on gatherings of more than six people in place.

Leaders at RJAH were keen to ensure that people could still observe and participate in the meeting as the Trust reviews the 2019/20 financial year.

Frank Collins, chairman of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital, has encouraged people to join the meeting next week.

He said: “The AGM is an important event in any organisation’s calendar, and it is no different for us at RJAH.

“This is a chance to share our story of the last financial year, and also to set out our vision for the months ahead.

“That vision has understandably been shifted by the impact of Covid, and we look forward to sharing some of that with you next week.

“I am delighted that we have found a way to make this meeting open to the public in the current climate.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in our hospital to join us on Teams.

“You’ll be able to watch a number of interesting presentations, and to take advantage of the Q&A function on the site to ask any questions you may have about what you hear.”

As well as an opening from Frank, the meeting will hear from Stacey Keegan, acting chief executive of RJAH. There will also be presentations from Craig Macbeth, director of finance; and from Mo Ramzan, a director at Deloitte LLP, who are RJAH’s auditors.

Stacey said: “This will be my first AGM since joining RJAH, initially as Interim Chief Nurse, in November last year.

“The 10 months since then have not been what I, or indeed anyone else, envisaged at the time – but I am proud of what we have achieved and what we continue to do to support our patients and our people.

“I look forward to telling some of that story at our AGM. It is a shame that people will not be able to join us in the room, but I am delighted that we can make use of the technology available to us in order to broadcast the meeting.

“I hope as many people as possible can join us, and I look forward to being with you next week.”

The meeting will reflect on the impact Covid-19 has had on the hospital, and the way it has responded to the challenge.

It will also be a chance to look back on a year that saw RJAH perform more knee and hip replacement procedures than any other centre in the UK, and one which saw it win a Special Commendation in the Acute or Specialist Trust of the Year category at the prestigious HSJ Awards.

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting will need to download the Microsoft Teams app and join the meeting via the link at https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzdmZjc0NDctMDU4Yi00MjEwLWE0MDMtYmEzYzVjODk2Yzdh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2237c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c0c4c996-9391-4031-97e4-016b2cd30f61%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d