Almoner's Reflections (December 2007)

A recent talk by the Development Director of the New Masonic Samaritan Fund was well attended by Lodge Almoners. We all agreed that seven or eight cases from Buckinghamshire per year did not represent a big enough usage.

How do we spread the word and the information about the Fund? Mike Pavier, Almoner of Industria Lodge, usually brings one or two other lodge members with him to meetings of Almoners. On this occasion, he also decided to write up a summary of the talk and send it to all his Lodge members and widows. With his kind permission, I reproduce the summary for us all to share and pass on:

New Masonic Samaritan Fund
A report on the Seminar held for Lodge Almoners on Monday 19th November at Beaconsfield

This seminar was held to inform Lodge Almoners of the work and manner of operation of this Fund by its Development Director, W Bro John Williams who is on a series of visits around the country to talk about and encourage the use of this fund.

The Fund was set up at the demise of the Royal Masonic Hospital and was financed by the proceeds of the sale of the Hospital being added to the resources of the Samaritan Fund of the Royal Masonic Hospital. The sale of the Hospital had been forced as its use by Freemasons and their families and dependants had dropped to such a level that the cost of its operation and upkeep could no longer be borne. At that time it was realised that very few, other than London Freemasons or those near to London, wished to use the Hospital – most wanting to have medical and hospital assistance much closer to their homes.

The New Masonic Samaritan fund offers help to those who need medical support or seek respite care facilities.
Since its inception in 1990 the Fund has helped over 8000 applicants at a cost of over 40 million pounds. Those helped include Freemasons, their wives or partners, dependants up to the age of 18 or to the end of full-time education, and in some cases, also Grandparents and Grandchildren. W Bro John mentioned that the Fund is prepared to consider as Dependants in-laws, parents and anyone who truly is or was dependant upon a Freemason – each case being considered upon its merits. In the period of its operation the assistance given by the Fund has been split about 50:50 between Freemasons and Dependants.

It is worth mentioning at this point that, in the eyes of the Fund, ‘Once a Freemason – always a Freemason’. Even if a Mason has resigned, when the need arises he may still seek aid from the Fund.

The criteria for assistance for support from the New Masonic Samaritan Fund are:

• Medical Need as supported by a Doctor and/or Consultant, and
• Extended waiting times to see a Consultant where the person is in severe pain or seriously handicapped (Buckinghamshire Province may be prepared to fund the initial consultation), and/or
• Extended NHS waiting times for Surgery or Hospital admission, usually 3 months for general surgery and 2 months for cardiac surgery, and
• Financial need

The point was made that where a person who is in receipt of State Pension and State Pension Supplement(s) and fitted one or more of the above criteria, then it is very likely that Fund support would be forthcoming. It was mentioned, however, that when the problem was one of extended waiting times, frequently discussion between the Fund professionals and the Primary Care Trust or Consultant concerned resulted in an almost magical reduction in NHS delays.

The make-up of the professionals in the Fund’s ‘Call-Centre’ was mentioned. They employ fully-qualified, dedicated and very experienced nurses who often speak directly with the person seeking help.

The normal approach to the Fund is via the Lodge Almoner, but many applicants are very sensitive over their Medical and/or Financial needs and are reluctant to use that route. So, the Fund invites direct contact from the person in need or his/her representative – telephone number and e-mail addresses for that contact are shown at the end of this report. The point is made that support is available to needy applicants and so there will be some questions about an applicant’s resources when considering individual cases.

W Bro John mentioned some of the areas where help has been given, including:
Assistance to reduce waiting-list time
Help with the cost of Digital Hearing Aids
Help with costs associated with Cardiac Surgery and its aftercare
Assistance with the costs of drugs to alleviate the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease
Help with costs of drugs to offset the early stages of wet macular degeneration
Help with costs of Respite Care, in some cases, with the cooperation of the Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution

The Fund not only supports those areas described above, but is prepared to consider any application for help upon its merits. It must be appreciated, however, that the Fund does not provide emergency medical assistance – such emergencies being the responsibility of the NHS and its Primary Care Trusts. The Fund may, however, be able to help with ongoing costs which would normally have to be borne by the patient where that patient can satisfy the Fund’s criteria for assistance.

Contact with the New Masonic Samaritan Fund is through the Almoner of the Lodge or direct to the Fund Call-Centre on 020-7404-1550 or via e-mail to mail@masonicsamaritan.org.uk

Mike Pavier

I am most grateful to Mike for this important piece of work. You have his permission to pass it on in your efforts to ensure all your members and dependants know about the work of this wonderful Masonic charity.

Peter Carey
Provincial Grand Almoner