On Sunday 25 March Thornhill is holding an Open Day so people can have a look round and try out what’s on offer. There will be refreshments, demonstrations and activities for the family while their older relatives find out more about the centre. Free transport from the town centre is available.

To find out more or to arrange a private visit, please phone Thornhill on 0141 639 8290.

THE ST JOHN EYE HOSPITAL JERUSALEM

The St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem is supported by the Order worldwide. It is open to all races and religions but principally serves the Arab population. It is a seventy-bedded specialist ophthalmic hospital offering the full range of modern eye medicine and surgery. Normally around fifty thousand outpatients are seen, and five thousand operations performed annually, although throughput is reduced at present due to the current turmoil. The hospital faces many challenges, including financial, and the Priory's continued support remains crucial.

Senior Staff:
Chief Executive Officer: Mr Steven James
Medical Director: Dr Jeanne Garth
Matron: Mrs Jacqueline E Jaidy
Sister Tutor: Mr Ahmad Ma'ali

SUPPORT OF ST JOHN MALAWI'S PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROJECT

As well as the eight Priories, there are thirty-one national St John Associations, many of them in developing countries. Most Priories have long contributed to the first aid work of the more needy St John Associations through sending money, supplies, trainers or advisers. The recent reorganisation of the Order worldwide increased awareness in Scotland of St John activities beyond its borders and prompted thought of how the Priory could play its part in helping weaker members of the family. The Sub Prior of the Order with special responsibilities concerning St John Associations is John Strachan from Christchurch, New Zealand. He suggested St John Malawi's Primary Health Care Project for consideration, which is additional to their first aid work. The Priory Secretary visited Malawi on his way back from a Priory Executives' Group meeting in South Africa in 2002. He met the chairman, secretary and other officers of St John Malawi, together with most of the project's volunteer Community Health Workers. Their nation is near the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, which reflects factors such as life expectancy, and ranks lower than any other country in which St John operates.

St John Malawi subsequently drew up a detailed funding proposal and Chapter agreed to provide £10,000 a year for three years, starting in 2004. The project, which began in 1988, helps prevent illness through education and immunisation, with particular emphasis on the health of young children. The volunteers also provide other medicines and training in the home-based care of seriously ill people. They work in the most densely populated townships of Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre, where living conditions are very poor. By helping meet the modest running costs involved, Scotland's contribution is allowing expansion of the project and recruitment to the originally planned number of sixty Community Health Workers.

ST JOHN'S COURT, GLASGOW

St John's Court is at 80 Partickhill Road, Glasgow, in a most attractive residential part of the west end of the city. Opened in 1975, the complex is run by the St John (Glasgow) Housing Association Ltd. Shops and public transport are close at hand. St John's Court provides sheltered housing accommodation for twenty-five tenants in self-contained flatlets. Each has a bed/sitting room, a kitchenette and a bathroom. There is a resident warden. Tenants retain their independence and privacy but have company and the reassurance provided by the warden's presence.

SIR ANDREW MURRAY HOUSE, STRATHYRE

This purpose-built holiday house, run by the Central Area Committee of the Order of St John, is designed and equipped for people who are physically handicapped, otherwise infirm or elderly. They are welcome to come as individuals, couples, families or groups.

It is situated in some of Scotland's most scenic country, in the village of Strathyre. The holiday accommodation consists of four double rooms with private bathroom and kitchen, and one unit with two rooms, each with two single beds, bathroom and kitchen. There is a comfortably furnished communal lounge, a large conservatory and a games room.

ST JOHN RETIREMENT COMPLEX - ARCHIBALD RUSSELL COURT, POLMONT

This eleven flat complex was completed in November 1993. Each flat has two bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen and bathroom. Patio doors from the lounge open onto large, professionally landscaped gardens. A separate residents' lounge provides a congenial meeting place for residents and friends. The MacRobert Restaurant is situated at the front of the complex, facing south. It is open both to members of the public and residents and their visitors. The entire complex has gas central heating and a modern security system is installed. There is a 24-hour caretaker service.

THE ST JOHN HOME, CRAMOND

In co-operation with the Lothian Hospitals NHS Trust, the home accommodates people from south-west Scotland who need treatment at the Oncology Unit in the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. Although out-patients, these people need accommodation, being so far from home. The only accommodation otherwise offered would be in a hospital ward.
The project is also operated in conjunction with Dumfries and Galloway Area St John members, who help transport the patients to and from Edinburgh.

The patients benefit from the homely atmosphere of the comfortable house and its tranquil, semi-rural setting and are very appreciative of the service provided. It is a pleasure to help them during what is usually a difficult time for them and their families.

The St John Home, Cramond
14 Cramond Road North
Edinburgh EH4 6HS
Tel: 0131 336 2446

THE ST JOHN PALLIATIVE CARE PROJECT IN DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

In Dumfries & Galloway the Order sustains several initiatives in the field of palliative care. The two-bedded St John palliative care unit at Dalrymple Hospital, Stranraer continues to be fully utilised with great benefit to the local community and credit to the Order. With help from the Order, it is planned to replace this unit with an enhanced facility during a forthcoming rebuild of the hospital. A well-established 'Hospice at Home' project provides increased nursing support for seriously ill patients in their own homes. Joint-funded by the local NHS Primary Care Trust, it operates throughout Wigtownshire.

PATIENT TRANSPORT SERVICE - DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

Dumfries and Galloway members operate two schemes to help transport people living in their area to and from medical treatment.
Firstly, a people carrier is used to transport patients with serious illnesses in comfort from the west of the region for hospital treatment in Dumfries or out of the region. The vehicle is owned by the Priory and driven by volunteers.
The second scheme, which has been running for nearly seven years, is operated by drivers using their own cars. Patients from the Stranraer and Newton Stewart areas are taken on Mondays to Dumfries to link up with special transport to Edinburgh where they receive chemo- or radio-therapy during the week. On Friday afternoons they are collected from Dumfries and taken back to their homes for the weekend.

THE ST JOHN CRUSADER CANAL BOAT

The St John Crusader II is specially designed for disabled and elderly people and is enjoyed by disadvantaged people of all ages. Its running costs are funded by the Edinburgh and South-East Area Order Committee and the boat is largely manned by St John volunteers. The boat was donated to the Seagull Trust who operate it from its base at Ratho just west of Edinburgh. During the spring and summer months over 5,000 people enjoy interesting trips on a beautiful stretch of the Union Canal, with canal-side picnics. The Christmas 'Santa Cruises' have also proved very popular and are often oversubscribed.

THE ST JOHN TRANSPORT SERVICE

As one of its national projects, the Priory has helped other charities buy much-needed vehicles they could not otherwise have obtained so quickly or at all. The vehicles are mainly minibuses, in many cases specially adapted to meet the particular requirements of those who use them. Since 1997, funding has been provided for vehicles for the following:

Acredale House, Bathgate
A community and day care centre for older people.

The Arbroath Town Mission
A day care centre for elderly people.

The Bannockburn Branch of Riding for the Disabled
Enables people with disabilities to benefit from the enjoyment and therapy of horse-riding.

The Berwickshire Association of Voluntary Services ('Berwickshire Wheels')
Provides self-drive wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the eastern Borders area.

Borders Disability Forum ('Gala Wheels')
Provides self-drive wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the central Borders area.

Braendam Family House
Situated near Stirling, this holiday and respite centre caters for families in need who come mainly from Glasgow, Dunbartonshire and west central Scotland.

Carberry
A centre near Edinburgh providing facilities for a wide range of disadvantaged people.

Disability Sport Fife
This association, which helps disabled people from Fife take part in sport, has been supported for several years through the local Area Order Committee.

The Dumfries Community Day Centre for Older People (see photo above)

Edinburgh Zoo
A Land Rover and custom-built trailer have been provided especially for disabled visitors and those who accompany them.

The Eric Liddell Centre, Edinburgh
A centre providing for people in need including those with dementia and other mental health difficulties.

Erskine Hospital
A major facility at Bishopton caring for ex-Service men and women in Scotland.

Fairbridge
Supports young people from deprived inner city environments.

Macmillan House Perth
A day care centre for people with progressive illnesses such as cancer.

The Marie Curie Cancer Care Hunters Hill Centre
The centre, in the north of Glasgow, includes a 35 bed hospice as well as a large outpatient facility and provides community nursing.

Mental Health Aberdeen
Provides a range of help to people with mental health problems.

OASIS Care
An umbrella organisation for Perth charities supporting children with special needs and their families.

The Ogilvie Centre Dundee
Formerly the Dundee and District Spastics Association.

Penumbra
Supports those affected by mental illness.

The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow
A hospice providing day care and in-patient facilities.

PUSH
An amputee support group for Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Sense Scotland
A charity supporting deafblind people.

Strathcarron Hospice
A residential and day care hospice at Denny near Falkirk. Two vehicles have been provided.

Sue Ryder Home
Provides a permanent home for people suffering from chronic disabilities.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE TRANSPORT

As part of its national project to extend support to mountain rescue teams in Scotland, the Priory is funding vehicles for them. This was undertaken through a rolling provision and, eventually, replacement programme, at a rate until 2003 of four vehicles each year. Provision is being arranged in conjunction with the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland to which all teams belong and who offered to advise on the priority of need between teams. The vehicles carry the Order name and badge as well as the name of the team and, in most cases, ambulance markings.

Most teams prefer for their operations Land Rover's long wheelbase Defender 110. The four-wheel drive Land Rovers can carry twelve passengers, with equipment on a roof rack; they can also carry a stretcher and be fitted with special items such as a radio, searchlights and a winch. Land Rover generously extended the same discount as for larger customers such as the Forestry Commission and Police.

The initial provision is nearing completion as twenty-three teams have been supplied with vehicles. These are Aberdeen, Arran, Arrochar, Assynt, Braemar, Cairngorm, Dundonnell, Galloway, Glencoe, Glenelg, Glenmore Lodge, Killin, Kintail, Lochaber, Lomond, Moffat, Oban, Ochils, Skye, Torridon & Kinlochewe, Tayside, Tayside Police Search and Rescue (pictured) and Tweed Valley. Arrangements are in hand for the Border Search and Rescue Unit and the Grampian Police Mountain Rescue Team.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE BASES

The sale of the Priory's hospital in Aberdeen in 1995 allowed the re-deployment of resources to new national projects. One of these is the wider support of mountain rescue throughout Scotland and a major element is the provision of bases to several teams.

A base for the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team was opened in 1997. Two smaller bases were completed for the Skye Team in 2000, one each side of the Cuillins. Since then, bases have been built for the Arrochar, Dundonnell, Lomond and Moffat teams and an existing building has been bought for the Oban team. Requests for help to build bases have also been received from the Arran, Border, Galloway, Kintail, Lochaber, Ochils, Tayside and Torridon & Kinlochewe teams.

The teams' range of activities is wider than one might think. They are called upon to help find missing people in all parts of the countryside, not just mountainous or hilly areas, and they bring their valuable local knowledge and experience of search and rescue techniques to many operations. The object of a search can vary from lost walkers to injured climbers, crashed aircraft or vehicles and to people missing from home who may be suicidal or at risk from mental illness. A team might help rescue people from sea cliffs, working closely with HM Coastguard and the RNLI.