New advisory group for Derry Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis patients

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis patients are being to join new Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Advisory Group and/or Ankylosing Spondylitis Research Advisory Group being set up with the Health Trust. 

The advisory groups are being created to allow the research team to design better research projects for the future by gaining personal insight from patients about their conditions.

For those patients who do not feel ready to join these advisory groups, the Trust is also launching two new patient support groups with assistance from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) and the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS).

Patients are invited to attend an information evening being held this Thursday at the C-TRIC building at Altnagelvin Hospital from 6.45pm to 8.00pm.

Main speaker at the event will be Ian Bruce, Professor of Rheumatology and Senior Investigator at Arthritis Research, who will also introduce patients to an exciting study involving close relatives of people with RA.

Encouraging all patients and their carers to attend the information evening Dr Philip Gardiner, Western Trust Consultant Rheumatologist said: “We really need to hear about patients own personal insight into their conditions, as this will help us to design better research projects in the future.

“The Research advisory groups are made up of research staff and people with an experience of the disease who want to be actively involved in the research process, although they do not need to take part in a clinical trial. The additional knowledge we gain from patient’s experiences can help challenge assumptions, identify problems and help come up with solutions.”

Places are limited, therefore it is essential that patients confirm their attendance by contacting Dawn Small, Research Nurse, telephone 028 7161 1294, leaving your name and contact number or via email: [email protected].