Birmingham IA's 2023 Information Day took place on Saturday 20th May, and what a busy day it was! We were delighted to meet so many members who had come to hear a fantastic range of expert speakers on important aspects of health for ileostomists and pouch patients.
As always, we had the customary Birmingham IA raffle, run by Mark Barnes. This year we were fundraising to support the charity Get Your Belly Out.
The day began early with our busy Product Exhibition. We were lucky to be supported by reps from a number of different companies who came to show us the latest products available. At the same time, Miss Melissa Cunha supported the Internal Pouch workshop, where a combination of experienced pouch patients and a couple on the brink of surgery were able to seek advice and information.
During the morning session, we were treated to some very informative presentations: the first was by Pooja Dhir, of City Dietitians, who gave us sound medical advice about foods we should be aiming to eat on a regular basis.
Shelagh Bickerton followed with a fascinating presentation on Kidney health for Ileostomists and pouch patients. As an expert in the fields of both stoma care and kidney health, she warned us of the risks of kidney injury and provided guidance on what we can do to help ourselves, particularly with regard to dehydration, including when we should take ourselves to hospital.
Wendy Osborne provided us with an extremely informative talk on causes and personal risk factors for developing parastomal hernias and again, gave us a wealth of good advice on how to minimise our risks.
Our final speaker was Birmingham IA member, social media influencer and 2nd Black Dan Matt Timmins, who talked at length with his usual good humour about his journey as an ileostomist and his approach to life with a stoma.
The morning's session was rounded off with a lively Question and Answer session in which the audience posed challenging questions to our panel of expert speakers, chaired by Miss Melissa Cunha, colorectal consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
After a delicious buffet lunch provided by Oasis Café, Birmingham IA’s Business meeting was held in the afternoon, and this was followed by “Questions to the President’, during which Miss Cunha took further questions from the members.
We are extremely grateful to all of our expert speakers and the Product suppliers for giving up their time to make this day so successful. And as always, we thank our members for supporting this annual event.
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Birmingham IA Yesterday |
This was one of our members and his wife. Tony Mcnicholas and his wife Marie. Tony had been a member with Birmingham IA since 2019 but he sadly passed in may 2025, Tony was a very popular and committed member of our group. Marie always came with Tony to meetings and events. Marie has very kindly donated a sum of money to help Birmingham IA continue providing others with support and a community as Tony found the group helpful for himself and his wife during his time as a member. We are so greatful to Marie and the rest of Tony family and friends for the donation. And I am sure Tony will be sadly missed within the socials and all the members who knew him.
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Birmingham IA 4 days ago |
At the pavillion attending the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Stoma Nurses information day. It was pleasant to meet so many people,who have a stoma. Along side company reps.
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Birmingham IA 7 days ago |
Let's get this out there as this would be a interesting presentation to all us ostomates and pouchies
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Birmingham IA 7 days ago |
A lovely turn out at our Solihull Social Coffee morning, Was lovely seeing our lovely members and our newbies. As without you we would be able to run these groups and a big thanks to Barry Austin from coloplast on his presentation of sore skin issue and the heylo device. Hope our members enjoyed this presentation.
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Birmingham IA 7 days ago |
Look forward to seeing you all at the social coffee morning come say hello
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Birmingham IA 8 days ago |
These are a brillant idea for anyone who has a child or someone who might not understand about the stoma/pouch using the books to explain it to them how it helps and what it does and how to cope with them.
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Birmingham IA 8 days ago |
A QUICK REMINDER. Our next social coffee meeting at Solihull Methodist Church, look forward to seeing you there. All are welcome to pop along.
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Birmingham IA 9 days ago |
How about pop along to the cancer bus tour around Birmingham if you feel worried about anything,put your mind at ease by getting your issues checked.
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Birmingham IA 9 days ago |
Please keep hydrated and safe in this heat please check out our website Birmingham ileostomy and pouch organisation, to get the latest information on how to stay hydrated in warmer weather. Our members get all this imformation and more by joining birmingham IA check website out for our form to join.
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Birmingham IA 9 days ago |
Keep up the good work ...so proud of one our birmingham members of all his hard work and all his fund raising...please donate if you ever see our Keith doing any fundraising as IA is so proud of all his does please send your praise to Keith.A lovely man .
