The NMSF is still a young charity. Established as recently as 1990 it seeks to provide medical assistance to needy Freemasons, their families and dependants who are unable to obtain NHS treatment without undue delay, and who cannot afford private treatment without suffering further hardship.

In its first ten years The Fund supported treatment for 5,000 individuals ranging in age from 3 to 95. This involved allocating grants totalling £19 million. Whilst many of the conditions funded via the NMSF may be associated with advancing years - hip and knee joint replacements, cataracts and prostate problems - funding can be available for everything from scans to major heart surgery. Although painful and often distressing, such complaints are not life threatening and often involve a long wait on the NHS. The Fund will not provide support in emergency or life threatening cases where the NHS will deal with it promptly and efficiently.

Applicants do not need to be financially destitute to qualify for assistance. In establishing the financial need we will take account of income but will not include the value of your home. Allowances are made for certain items of expenditure and for reasonable savings.

Some applicants may be asked to make a contribution towards the overall cost of treatment. Once an application is accepted, the interests of the patient will be paramount and the required treatment will be obtained at whichever hospital is the most appropriate and, if possible, near to where the patient lives.

'Prior to treatment my hips were spontaneously dislocating and it was taking me 15 minutes to get out of a chair. This evening I walked up the stairs in my house, one step at a time, using both legs alternately, albeit slowly but this is something I have not been able to do for over 5 years.'