By Caroline Welch

VIPs were keen to thank volunteers running Festival Medical Services at Glastonbury and to see the impressive facilities available to patients.

FMS Patron Annie Maw, the former Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, led a group of Somerset friends around. They included the new Dean of Wells Cathedral, the Very Revd Toby Wright.

The following day, FMS Chair Nich Woolf and Chief Executive, Dr Chris Howes, from Croscombe, near Wells, hosted Somerset's High Sheriff, Rob Beckley. 

Perhaps the most high-profile visitor was Professor Dame Jenny Harries – known to millions from her television appearances during the Covid pandemic - who visited in her capacity as Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

Local Government and the NHS were involved too, with visits from Somerset Council Chief Executive Duncan Sharkey, South West Ambulance Trust Chief Executive Dr John Martin, and from NHS's England's Professor Julian Redhead, National Clinical Director for Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care and Dr Michael Marsh, South West Region Chief Medical Officer.

Festival Medical Services (FMS) was founded at Glastonbury in 1979 and its doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and support staff offer a full on-site emergency medical service, plus other healthcare services such as dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy and mental healthcare.

They pride themselves on how many patients they are able to treat on site at events and how few need to be transferred to hospital. 

A charity itself, FMS also raises money for medical projects in the UK and abroad. It has raised nearly £1.5 million altogether and last year donated more than £200,000 to other good causes. 

Mrs Maw, who is a wheelchair user, said: "Since I became Patron of Festival Medical Services last year I have wanted to spread the word about how marvellous and dedicated they are and how much important work they do.

"Of course, everyone who goes to Glastonbury Festival, or any other of the many outdoor events they cover, plans to have a marvellous time and never need to see a doctor or a nurse, but life isn't always like that.

"And what is so wonderful is to know that if you do fall ill or have an accident, these great people are there to help you and give you an amazing standard of care – the same as you will receive in any hospital or surgery – just in the middle of a field – it's incredible.

"I really wanted to take a group of people to meet them, to thank them, and to see the huge range of services they offer – free of charge – to patients at Glastonbury Festival.

"I'm pleased to say they were all very impressed – one of them made an immediate donation to pay for one of the trauma boxes that FMS are currently sending out to Ukraine.

"And they all just really wanted to say thank you to the doctors, nurses and other health care teams who all give their time so willingly to help others stay well and have fun." 

Last month Mrs Maw climbed Glastonbury Tor in a wheelchair in a huge fundraising "push" for Festival Medical Services herself.

She had never before been to the top of the 158-metre (518 foot) iconic landmark – even before she had her horse-riding accident in 2002 which led to her becoming a wheelchair-user.

She has so far raised more than £16,000 which is being split between charities Motivation and Humanity & Inclusion. Motivation is an international disability and inclusion charity, based in Bristol. They provide wheelchairs, training and support to empower disabled people in Africa and India to gain independence, improve their confidence and transform their own lives.

Humanity & Inclusion work alongside disabled and vulnerable people around the world – particularly in countries affected by conflict, natural disaster and poverty.

Her sponsorship page is still open at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/access-all-areas