Author: Christine

Complementary & alternative medicine (CAMs)in Rare Diseases: Discussion workshop.

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The Centre for Public Health at QUB (@CPH_QUB) are researching the experience of using complementary and alternative medicines for rare diseases in Northern Ireland; and ran a Survey to gather information (see the post below)

NIRDP and the Centre for Public Health are now hosting a Discussion Workshop for people with experience of using complementary and alternative medicines, or who are considering this approach, to share experiences and gather more information.

The Workshop is in Lecture Room 1 at Riddel Hall, from 10.30 to 12.30 on 6 March 2019: there will be tea/coffee/water/juice and tray-bakes! Places are limited to 25, so please register now, and share your experience and questions!

NIRDP “Our Governance Role” Workshop: 7 November 2018, 4pm to 7pm, Grosvenor Hall, 5 Donegall St, Belfast,

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As part of our NIRDP “training” work, we are holding  a Workshop for those who are Trustees/Governors/Directors of Charities and voluntary organisations; or who are thinking of taking up the role.

The Workshop will cover:

  • “Our Governance Role”, led by Eileen Mullan of Strictly Boardroom ; and
  • An overview of GDPR, delivered by NICVA

This is a great opportunity to learn more about how Boards work; and what is needed from Board Members to make their organisations work effectively, as well as to learn about how to manage information , under the new GDPR rules.  It will be fun and very informative; and it’s FREE!

Places are limited, so if you would like to come, please email: christine@nirdp.org.uk by Wednesday 31 October

 

Joint North South Rare Disease Conference: 5 March 2018

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We are busy finalising the Programme for this, the Fourth Joint North South Rare Disease Conference. There are still some details to sort out, but see below  for the latest version.

Programme

09.00 – 10.15               REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

10.15 – 10.30               Welcome  and Introductions

Fiona McLaughlin, Chair NIRDP & Philip Watt, Chair MRCG

10.30 – 10.45              “Nothing about us without us”

Les Allamby, Chief Commissioner, NIHRC

10.45 – 11.30               Rare Disease and the Strategies

Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, DoH (NI)

Another Speaker TBC

11.30 – 12.30               Participating in Research

Dr Maurice O’Kane, NI Clinical Research Network

Dr Claire Lundy, Regional Paediatric Neurodisability Service

Another Speaker TBC

12.30 – 13.30               LUNCH

Poster Competition:    “Nothing About Us Without Us” (see below)

Side Event – Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

13.30 – 14.15               Panel Discussion – BUILDING CAPACITY

Chair – Mary Hinds, PHA

Panellists to include: Derrick Mitchell, IPPOSI; Gemma McKillen, EUPATI;  Julie Power, VIA,

 

14.15 – 15.15               WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

100k Genomes Programme – Dr AJ McKnight

The 22 Q Journey: Anne Lawlor, Chairperson 22q11 Ireland         Support Group; Dr Tabib Dabir, BHSCT; Gillian Cassidy, 22Q Support Group Dr Mary Dallas, PHA

22 Q Video

15.15 – 15.30               COFFEE BREAK

15.30 – 16.15               Panel Discussion – BEYOND THE STRATEGIES: NEXT STEPS

Chair – Professor Ian Young

Dr Avril Kennan, MRCG

Philip Watt, MRCG

Anne Lawlor, Chairperson 22q11 Ireland Support Group

2 Members TBC

16.15 – 16.30               PRESENTATION OF POSTER COMPETION PRIZES & NIRDP AWARDS

Fiona McLaughlin, Philip Watt & Professor Ian Young

16.30                           CLOSE – Philip Watt

Register NOW to be sure of your place!

Note:  There is a Poster Competition: the Topic,  is “Nothing about us without us” tying in with the Rare Disease Day Theme of  “Research: Patients are not only subjects but also proactive actors in research”https://www.rarediseaseday.org/page/news/the-theme-for-rare-disease-day-2018-is

The Competition (with prizes!)  aims to showcase examples of research, academic, clinical, social where patients and families were engaged and  involved; what difference it made; and what is happening now and into the future.  So if you or your organisation have worked with rare disease patients, families and carers to do any research, surveys, etc which  are being used or could be used to influence and shape treatments,  care and services for people with rare disease, send a short abstract to rarediseaseday2018@health-ni.gov.uk ,  with POSTER COMPETITION in the Subject line, by Friday 23 February.  Posters must be A0 size Portrait, and brought to Riddell Hall on the day by 9.00am on 5 March 2018 for display.

 

Rare Disease Day 2018: Joint North South Conference, Riddel Hall, 5 March

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Rare Disease Day is coming !  This year, we are looking forward to welcoming you to the fourth Joint North South Rare Disease Day event, held with our friends the Irish Rare Disease Taskforce, on 5 March 2018 in the splendid surroundings of QUB’s Riddel Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast.

The Theme for this year’s Rare Disease Day is Research; and the Joint North South Conference will focus on:

  • Rare Disease and the UK and R.o.I Strategies
  • Expert Patients: Engaging with Research: EUPATI UK and RoI
  • Patients and Researchers: examples of good practice
  • Beyond the 2016 to 2020 Strategies: Next Steps

We are still working on the Programme, so watch out for updates!

Register now (FREE)  here

 


 

 

 

 

Stronger Together Project starts work!

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Sandra Campbell, Tanya Boggs, and Fiona McLaughlin: Getting the Stronger Together Project off to a great start in Derry! 

Today marks a great step forward for NIRDP and for all those affected by rare diseases in Northern Ireland, as Tanya Boggs, our first “Stronger Together” Project Officer, starts work!

Fiona McLaughlin (NIRDP Chair) and Sandra Campbell (NIRDP Director and Foyle and NorthWest Rare Disease Forum Lead) welcomed Tanya; and started the process of building our “Stronger Together” Project, funded by a grant from the Big Lottery.

Our NIRDP vision is that no one is disadvantaged because of the rarity of their health condition. Stronger Together is a 2 year pilot project which will enable people who live or work with rare disease to connect, advocate, educate and innovate in partnership with each other and others (e.g. Department of Health; other Departments; other charities). The project will provide peer support, volunteering, networking and advice.

It aims to make the ideas put forward  in the Communications Workshops earlier this year, for improving accessibility to information and support into a reality; and so to make a positive difference to the way people affected by rare diseases live.

Come along to the  Foyle and North West Rare Disease Forum meeting in the City Hotel, Derry on Monday 6 November from 11am to 1 pm to meet Tanya and others, and to celebrate this first step on the road!

Who knows what in rare disease? Engagement, information and communication

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As part of the work on the NI Rare Disease Plan, NIRDP has been running a series of Workshops across Northern Ireland, and an Online Survey, to identify information needs in relation to rare disease issues; what information is currently available and what information people would like to help them live or work with rare conditions.

On 7 June, a workshop chaired by Professor Ian Young, the Chief Scientific Officer and Chair of the NI Rare Disease Implementation Group,  heard about progress in genetics, presented by Dr Tabib Dabir, Clinical Lead, NI Regional Medical Genetics Service (and member of NIRDP’s Board)  and in metabolics, presented by Dr Clodagh Loughrey, Consultant Chemical Pathologist and Clinical Director Laboratories, BHSCT.

It’s clear from these presentations that the pathway to diagnosis, and the options available for management and treatment of complex and rare conditions, will soon alter dramatically.  Indeed some changes are already happening, with an individual’s genetic make up helping to determine the best course of treatment in some cases. It’s essential that we think through how to make best use of these advances!

Participants then considered the emerging findings from the Workshops and the Survey, presented by Dr Jane Miller, Research Fellow at the NI Genomic Medicine Centre  and NIRDP Chair Fiona McLaughlin, before working in five groups to validate and  consider how progress could be made on the key areas identified in the Workshops and in the Survey.

Suggestions for improving information and communications

  • Develop care pathways / flow charts / support plans / signposting.
  • Have one ‘go to person’ who co-ordinates care and information sharing between those involved in care:  “Care navigators” to support patients, families, and clinicians.
  • Develop a hub / portal for accessing information for medics, other professionals and people with a rare condition/disease.
  • Develop referral routes to support groups, or to other people with the same condition, from the point of diagnosis.
  • Look and take learning from other models e.g. Cancer Care; Maternity Care (where mothers hold information in The Red Book) Downs Syndrome etc.

There were many valuable suggestions, and much learning across the whole group- for example, about the proposed introduction of the SNOMED coding system across both primary and secondary care; and planned technological developments within Health & Social Care.  Also, locally based training for patients, along the lines of the EUPATI modules some of our members are already familiar with, is hopefully to become available.

We are still processing all the information that emerged; and planning follow up through a virtual working group to take forward the ideas in more detail.

Further details to follow- watch this space!

And if you haven’t already done so, please complete the Survey and get your family and health care colleagues to do so too …

NORTHERN IRELAND RARE DISEASES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN – FOCUS WORKSHOP FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

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This is to provide more information on the Focus Workshop, aimed primarily at Healthcare professionals, which is being held from 4pm to 7pm on 7 June, in the Grosvenor Hall, Glengall Street, Belfast BT15 5AD.

The Focus Workshop builds on the Workshops held across Northern Ireland during March and April. It will consider the findings and recommendations from those Workshops; and agree priorities for action.  It will also focus on identifying existing information and communication channels used by clinicians and other healthcare professionals working with rare diseases; and consider how these might be improved.

Please register now to attend; and also complete the Survey to ensure that your voice is heard!

 

NI Rare Diseases Implementation Plan: work in progress!

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At last, work is underway on all four of the Priority Actions in the NI Rare Diseases Implementation Plan:

  • The NI Genomic Medicine Centre is now established; staff are being recruited; and protocols for evaluation of the outcomes are being developed with NIRDP input;
  • Over the past month, NIRDP has  held well attended Communications and Information Review Workshops across Northern Ireland.  Thank you, to all those who came along and contributed so powerfully; and a special “Thank You” for their time and support to our speakers, Dr Fiona Stewart, Dr Vivienne McConnell, Dr Deidre Donnelly, and Dr Gillian Rea from the Regional Medical Genetics Service, to Ryan Wilson from the Department of Health, and to our Facilitator, Grace Henry.

The views and ideas from the Workshops are now being analysed; and will be added to the information from the Online Survey- which is still open.  So please go to the Survey, and make your voice count! The emerging findings will be considered in a Focus Workshop on 7 June: Register your interest in attending this event here

Work is now also starting on:

  • Scoping for a Rare Diseases Registry for Northern Ireland, looking at how to establish a Registry, including the need for information on congenital abnormalities, and for links to existing and developing information systems (such as the new English system, NCARDRS), whether in the UK, Ireland, or internationally; and
  • A Training Needs Analysis for doctors and other clinicians in rare diseases building on the existing presentations, delivered in part by NIRDP Members,  in year 1 and year 5 of the medical training course.

This work programme is being overseen by the Rare Diseases Implementation Plan Steering Group, led by Professor Ian Young,  Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health.  The aim is to have a Report by Christmas; an “action research model” is being used, so wherever possible learning can be translated into practice without delay.

 

Communication and Information Review: Have your say, and make the NI Rare Disease Plan work!

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Northern Ireland Rare Diseases Implementation Plan

As part of the Plan we are working with the Department of Health and the HSC bodies to carry out a Communications and Information Review; and on the basis of the evidence gathered, to make and implement recommendations for improvements to current systems.

The Review will provide both face to face and online/paper opportunities to participate; so please make full use of all the opportunities there are- your knowledge and experience is needed to build a better system!

We are starting by holding a series of interactive Workshops (see dates/times/venues below) facilitated by Grace Henry, designed to find out:

  • what information you need to help you tackle the challenges of a rare disease- whether you are a person living with a rare disease, a carer, a health professional, or a policy maker or service manager;
  • how that information should be made available; and
  • how you would like to participate in designing, delivering and evaluating services for rare diseases

These Workshops will give you an opportunity to hear about what is happening on the NI Rare Disease Plan (including on the NI Genomic Medicine Centre; the NI Rare Disease Registry; and medical education) and to have your say  in shaping how you will be included and involved in planning, decision making, and evaluating services.  It’s your chance to describe the information that is available, and how you get it; what is missing;   and to define the information and support you need- and how it should be delivered.

Workshop Outline Agenda:

  • What are Rare Diseases? Consultant in Genetics, Regional Medical Genetics Service
  • The Rare Disease Plan and the HSC: Department of Health Official, Secondary Care Directorate
  • What information is there/What do you need/How should it be delivered: Questionnaire and Facilitated Discussion Groups; Grace Henry

Workshops

  • 16 March 15.00 to 17.00 Conference Room, Portadown Health and Care Centre, Tavanagh Avenue, Portadown BT62 3BU
    Eventbrite - Communications Workshop 2 Have Your Say: Make the Rare Disease Plan work!
  • 22 March 16.00 to 19.00 Larkin Room. Post Graduate Medical Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AB
    Eventbrite - Communications Workshop 3 Have Your Say: Make the Rare Disease Plan work!
  • 27 March 12.30 to 14.30 Mulberry Suite, Corrs Corner Hotel, 315 Ballyclare Rd, Newtownabbey, BT36 4TQ
    Eventbrite - Communications Workshop 4 Have your say: Make the Rare Diseases Plan Work!
  • 4 April 15.00 to 17.00 Boardroom, South West Acute Hospital, 124 Irvinestown Rd, Enniskillen BT74 6DN
    Eventbrite - Communications Workshop 5 Have Your Say: Make the Rare Disease Plan Work!
Online Survey

Please comment on Facebook or through Twitter – we are planning a Tweetchat soon; but it would be good to meet up face to face, and share views, ideas and experiences!

Connecting  Advocating  Educating and Innovating

Stronger Together

Joint North South Rare Disease Day 2017/Foyle and North West Rare Disease Forum

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This year, we are celebrating Rare Disease Day on 28 February jointly with our counterparts in the South, The Rare Disease Taskforce- in the palatial surroundings of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, from 9.45 to 4 pm: see the impressive Programme below.

Please Register here:

Meanwhile from 11.30 to 12.30  the Mayor of Derry, Alderman Hilary McClintock, kindly is hosting a Reception  in the gracious surroundings of the Whittaker Suite, Guildhall,Derry/Londonderry, to celebrate the Day! Everyone is welcome at this informal event, to hear about what is happening around research into rare disease, and how to have your say on improving the systems for preventing, treating and living with rare conditions.

Please register now to receive an invitation

The Programme for the Kilmainham event is here:

Joint North South Rare Disease Day Conference 28 February 2017

9.45am: Registration, Tea and Coffee

Theme 1:  Updates, Progress and Gaps

10.30am                    Welcome and opening remarks: Philip Watt, Chairperson, Rare Disease Taskforce

10.45am                    Opening Address: Mark Pollock

11.00am                    Update on progress on Rare Diseases in Northern Ireland: Professor Ian Young

11.20am                    Progress at a European level: Professor Eileen Treacy

11.40am: Tea/Coffee Break and Networking Opportunity

Theme 2: Accessing New and Innovative Medicines: The Needs and the Challenges  Chaired by: Derick Mitchell, IPPOSI

12.10pm Rare lung diseases – opportunities and challenges: Professor Gerry McElvaney

12.30pm A pharmacoeconomics perspective: Professor Michael Barry NCPE

12.50pm Patient group perspective: Michael Griffith and Dermot Devlin

13.10pm Discussion

 13.30pm: Lunch

Theme 3: The role of Genomics and Research in Rare Diseases  Chaired by: Fiona McLoughlin, Chairperson, NI Rare Disease Partnership

14.15pm 22Q11: A North/South patient group perspective: Gillian Cassidy and Anne Lawlor

14.35pm The Patient Journey – Living with a Genetic Diagnosis: Rose Kelly and Anne Lennon Bird

14:55pm The role and potential of genomics in tackling rare diseases: Dr Sean Ennis

15:15pm Cheryl Flanagan: Northern Ireland Genomic Medicine Centre

15.35pm Discussion

15.55pm Concluding Remarks: Avril Daly, GRDO

The National Rare Disease Office team will be on hand on the day to showcase the Orphanet system throughout the day.