Remembering ELF Founder Dr Miles Joyner MBE 1944-2023

We are saddened to announce the death of Dr Miles Joyner MBE, founder of Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

Over four decades, Dr Joyner improved the lives of haematology patients and their families at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. As a much-respected haematologist, consultant, and Chairman of the ELF Board of Trustees, Dr Joyner worked tirelessly for haematology patients and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In 2021, in recognition of his lifetime's work, Dr Joyner was awarded an MBE in the late Queen's Birthday Honors list for his outstanding services to blood cancer patients in Devon.

Erik Salomonsen, our current Chairman of Trustees, reflects upon Dr Joyner's achievements:

"Miles Joyner improved the lives of many sufferers from blood disorders and their families for more than forty years by his unpaid and tireless commitment to Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF), which he was instrumental in founding and leading. From small beginnings, he and a group of supporters raised funds, initially to provide equipment to enable the latest treatments to be delivered on the Haematology wards. As the charity grew, support was extended to include research and additional nursing staff. 

When the existing wards became insufficient to meet the needs of the service, Miles spearheaded a major fundraising drive to provide a new clinical unit. In collaboration with the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital Trust, ELF built a new unit (the current Haematology Centre), incorporating inpatient and outpatient facilities that was officially opened by The Princess Royal in 2003. Two thirds of the cost was borne by ELF. Recently, another fundraising effort delivered £0.5M for an extension – the Chevithorne suite, a facility to provide much needed end of life care for patients and accommodation for their families. 

Ever alert to the changing needs of patients with blood disorders, Miles ensured that the charity extended its support outside the hospital by offering transport to clinics, befriending at home, counselling, and help with access to social services. After retirement, his commitment to ELF continued and he served as Chairman of Trustees for many years, where his energy and vision remained undiminished.

These achievements are extraordinary when they are considered against a background of a busy and successful clinical career. As the first clinical Haematologist in Exeter, Miles transformed the service to patients with blood disorders which hitherto was only a laboratory service. He pioneered many new treatments for leukaemia and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his patients, and we know the love and respect his patients and colleagues had for him. Many lives have been transformed as a result of his drive and vision and many more will continue to benefit for years to come from his legacy."

We have opened a memorial page for Dr Joyner. If you would like to make a donation to ELF in his memory, please visit the Dr Miles Joyner Memorial Page