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 19 hours ago |
I know we are advised to not drink water alone but these are ideas to keep safe and cool in these extreme weather from the NHS
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Birmingham IA 19 hours ago |
I want to thank all who attended our social coffee morning in Sutton Coldfield..and also thank Alex Browning from Dansac on her presentation to the group
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Birmingham IA 22 hours ago |
While these temperatures are increasing,Please keep yourself safe..keep hydrated and use sun protections.
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Birmingham IA 2 days ago |
I have heard conversations regarding the lack of facilities and waste bins in male toilets as they often don't provide them so males who have stomas or incontinence issue. This is a link regarding how they are trying to change this issue. https://www.phs.co.uk/male-incontinence/ have a read.
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Birmingham IA 3 days ago |
I was made aware that the male toilets are not equipped for males with stoma or incontinence here a link with information regarding this issue
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Birmingham IA 3 days ago |
Don't Forget to pop along to our Sutton Coldfield Social coffee morning tomorow at 10.30am.1 Brassington Avenue Sutton Coldfield B73 6AA Alex Browning from Dansac giving a presentation..but not confirmed yet
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Birmingham IA 3 days ago |
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Birmingham IA 3 days ago |
This a a committee leaving meal of Peggy Andy and Syeda. Who sadly stepped down from their roles. I would like to congratulate all of them for their dedication and commitment to Birmingham IA. Peggy has been a member of BirminghamIA since 1979 and began volunteering at MrBevan's stoma clinic in Dudley Road Hospital and then joined the committee in 2001 as the membership Secretary and decided to step down earlier this year. She will ne remaining as a member of birmingham IA. I would also acknowledge her family who always supported Birmingham IA throughout aswell along side Peggy. Andy became a member of BirminghamIA in 1999 and started of becoming a One-to-One support volunteer and then joined the committee in a new role of Engagement Manager and became very successful at this role then sadly stepped down from the role early this year. Syeda joined BirminghamIA in in 2004-2009,she rejoined in 2015 and still remains she was on the committee twice for two different roles first she was the Social Media Manager and then rejoined the committee as the One to One Coordinator until she stepped down earlier this year... They will be sadly missed in their roles within the committee I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work Mike as done for Birmingham IA who also stepped down..and we have given Mike and Peggy a honoury member of BirminghamIA.
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Birmingham IA 3 days ago |
Good to see the awareness is getting out there
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Birmingham IA 4 days ago |
Our Keith when he did his last half a marathon
