The pace of life at the PTC has been maintained as we move into Easter. On the 10th of March I had the opportunity to address a new group of West Yorkshire Police Officers about the merits of the PTC on literally their first day in service. I am always encouraged by the fact that there are so many men and women who are still inspired to join the Police Service despite the challenges that they know that they will face on the job, and I am particularly impressed that many of them have actually taken a pay cut from their previous jobs to join as a new PC. This was followed up the same week by meetings with CC Dee Collins WYP and the West Yorkshire Police Federation. WYP are great supporters of the PTC and are working closely with us at the moment to increase the sign up of the WYP Donors in order to ensure that as many of their officers as possible have the opportunity to benefit from our services.
Later that same week I hosted a visit from Ian Potter the Chair of NARPO and Clint Elliot their CEO. It is worth reflecting that although the priority for patient admissions to the PTC remains serving officers, we value the contribution that our Retired Officers have made during their service, always enjoy having them as Patients at the PTC where they definitely add to the mood and atmosphere present in both Centres ,and retired officers currently make up about 14% of our total numbers admitted each week.
Other visits during this period have included The Hon Simon Howard our President, Helen Gisbourne who we have been reviewing the next stage of our IiP Accreditation Plan with, and then Nicky Murdoch the CEO of the Defence Medical Welfare services to explore future partnering opportunities.
On 24 March I was invited by Supt Garry Morton a PTC Trustee to address the Annual Joint Meeting of the 3 Superintendents Associations of the UK which gathered in Northern Ireland for their Annual Conference.
As well as being an enjoyable meeting (and having spent 4 happy years of my previous career in Northern Ireland I do enjoy going back there for visits), it was an opportunity to brief and update the Superintendents of the UK on recent developments at the PTC, and to seek their personal support for the work that we do. The intent is for them to return to their places of work and encourage their teams to sign up as PTC donors and fund raisers.
I returned to the PTC later that same week, just in time to host a visit from John Dwyer the Cheshire PCC, and although as a former serving senior Police Officer in Cheshire he was certainly aware of the PTC and our work, the visit in his current appointment provided a useful opportunity to explain to him where we are now, and how our work at the PTC supports his work as a PCC.
That is about it for the time being, as you read this we will be well in the approach for Easter. It is worth noting that both Centres of the PTC will be open as normal over the Easter Holidays but for those of you who are off, enjoy the break, and for those of you who are working, have as safe and enjoyable holiday period as you are able.
Patrick Cairns
CEO PTC
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