LUPUS DROP-IN 
SECOND THURSDAY of EACH MONTH

2020
Lupus Drop-In
based at intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre
see below for location and directions from car park
Plenty of buses serve the Shopping Centre
intu Guides (wearing old-gold jackets) will be pleased to take you to
the Bold Room …….. if you ask nicely!

Next Lupus Drop-In

           
Date: Thursday, 19th March                                2020
Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Theme: Lupus & Fatigue
                            
The BOLD ROOM
intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre Brierley Hill
DY5 1QX

          Hope to see you there

          

Thursday, 13th February 2020
Due to other LUPUS UK commitments, Yvonne & Peter were unable to attend. BIG thank-you to Liz and Hannah (LUPUS UK Specialist Nurse) who led the session. Hannah spoke about blood tests and steroid usage and answered questions from the 14 people who attended. A most informative afternoon.

Thursday, 9th January 2020
An improvement in numbers for the first meeting of 2020 when 11 people attended, including 2 new ladies and a partner. Yvonne gave a presentation on visiting the GP/Consultant and decisions we can make in the New Year e.g. taking responsibility for our-selves Health-wise. This was followed by a general discussion.

Thursday, 13th December 2019
 7 people joined together for the Christmas session and enjoyed a variety of snacks and good conversation. The WMLG Annual Christmas Raffle was also drawn. Hopefully, members will include attending the Drop-In when they make their New Year Resolutions/Promises. It will be great to see numbers increase during 2020

Thursday, 14th November 2019
The fact that 7 people attended, including a 'new' lady, was a surprise considering the downpour of rain that continued all afternoon. LUPUS UK Specialist Nurse, Hannah Guest, joined the group and was able to answer some of the questions that arose during discussion on the theme of Lupus and Winter. Yvonne updated on the outcome of visits to 3 hospitals applying for Centre of Excellence status and other events that had taken place during a very busy Lupus Awareness Month.

Thursday, 10th October 2019
Only 7 members attended, 1 for the first time and 3 travelling a good distance. In response to questions, Yvonne & Peter explained the procedure for a hospital to become a LUPUS UK Centre of Excellence and the benefits the Award brings both to patients and medics. Following discussion on various treatments and coping with lupus, brain cells were tested with a lupus quiz. 

Thursday, 12th September 2019
16 members/family had a very informative afternoon. Hannah Guest, LUPUS UK Specialist Nurse, QE Hospital, B'ham, spoke about her work and answered questions on medication, side-effects, making appointments etc. It was good to have Gill back after her shoulder operation and to see Nazli after a long break. Congratulations to Pat who chose the winning name of a cuddly bear attired in a lupus t-shirt.

Thursday, 8th August 2019
10 members/friends watched a video of the opening Talk at the LUPUS UK AGM which took place at Exeter during May then followed up with a discussion on the various aspects of lupus and other matters. It was good to have a new lady and her daughter join us for the afternoon.

Thursday, 18th July 2019
10 members/friends had an enjoyable afternoon testing their knowledge of lupus through a Quiz and discussing various topics centered on lupus including the involvement/effects of social media. It was good to welcome a new member, Pat, who seemed pleased to have 'found' the Drop-In.

Thursday, 9th May 2019
Guest Speaker, Gethin Morgan, spoke to the 12 members present on the theme 'Tax, Care and Toy Boys!' The information he gave on legal protection and the carrying out of wishes following death was not as morbid as it may sound, but good, practical advice which raised a lot of questions. So much so that his 20 minute Talk lasted over an hour! Talk of 'future plans' continued after Gethin had left. A good, informative afternoon.

Thursday, 11th April 2019
The Drop-In was preceded by WMLG AGM during which the existing Committee members were all re-elected.
Chair: Yvonne Norton      Treasurer: Peter Norton
Membership/Minutes: John Oakley
Members: June Oakley, Sandra Ferreira, Mark Critchley, Mandy Critchley, Caroline Heise
Auditor: John Oakley
Following the AGM, the 14 members present watched a video presentation of Advances in Lupus Treatments by Prof Chris Edwards.

Thursday, 14th March 2019
Good to see a few extra people at the Drop-In, 13 in total. Chris and Deb from Healthwatch Dudley spoke about the organisation, how it works, how people can be helped, and how all healthwatch groups throughout England are linked together. Members responded to the request to complete a survey looking at the question of what people with long-term illness want from the health service. A very interesting afternoon with the gift of a pen and shopper as a reward for survey-filling.

Thursday, 14th February 2019
In spite of people asking for the Drop-In to be relocated to an accessible place with nearby free parking, only 9 people (the usual 'hard core') attended this session. The video presentation on Treatment in Lupus was held over and the future of the Drop-In was discussed. It was agreed to continue the facility and work on the new plans of bi-monthly Guest Speakers. A representative of Healthwatch Dudley is booked to speak 14th March. Hopefully, this will attract more members/friends.

Thursday, 10th January 2019
11 people attended the first session of the year which was held in the new venue at intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre. Unfortunately, the session got off to a late start when paramedics were called to help one of our members who had been taken ill. All was ok, though, and the other members entertained themselves (and drank coffee) whilst waiting for the meeting to 'get going'. Once everyone was back together, a conversation on 'Where do we go from here?' soon developed which produced several good ideas and advice to help people with lupus look after themselves during 2019.

          
2020

Thursday  9th  January: New Year plans for Coping with                                                                                                Lupus
Thursday 13th  February: LUPUS UK Specialist Nurse,
​                                             Hannah Guest
Thursday 19th  March: Please note CHANGE OF DATE - Fatigue
Thursday   9th  April: AGM +
Thursday  14th  May: 
Thursday  11th  June: Guest Speaker, Sam Passi, Silver Time    
​                                                                                              Legal
Thursday   9th July: 
Thursday  13th August: 
Thursday 10th  September: 
Thursday  8th  October: Lupus Awareness Month
Thursday 12th  November: Lupus & Winter
Thursday 10th  December: Annual Raffle Draw                                                                           mince pies/snacks - Party-time

                         All sessions 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

From the Photo Album

                    2019
​Hannah Guest, LUPUS UK Specialist Nurse, QE, B'ham (striped top), joined the Drop-In, 12th September.

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Last session of 2018  at Russells Hall Hospital

  
 Caroline's hand-made 
 Dutch Gnomes -  
 Great for Christmas gifts 
  

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(l-r): Gill, Caroline, Yvonne & Denise at the Cake Sale May 2017

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Towards the end of the Sale, most of the home-baked cakes have been sold

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Paula and Sean, Dudley CAB (far right, back row), with members during April 2017 information session 

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        Yvonne and Caroline at the
        'Christmas Party'
         December 2016

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The Mayoress of Dudley, Jayne Waltho,
visited the Drop-In,
May 2016, to speak about some of the fund raising events held on behalf of the Mayoral charities

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Getting into the Christmas party spirit - Dec 2015

10th birthday party & cheque presentation
      Thursday, 17th October 2013

Above: Cllr Steve Waltho, Dr Niki Erb  and Yvonne with the                Deputy Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Margaret Aston, and her Consort,      Cllr Adam Aston, with representatives from Action Heart     and Leukaemia UK