LUPUS DROP-IN 
SECOND THURSDAY of EACH MONTH

2019
Lupus Drop-In
has relocated to 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, 12th December                                2019
Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Theme: Lupus + mince pies/                                snacks - party time

The BOLD ROOM
intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre Brierley Hill
DY5 1QX

          Hope to see you there

          please contribute an item
​                   of party food

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.

Thursday, 13th December2018
8 people joined together for the Christmas session and enjoyed a variety of snacks and good conversation. The WMLG Annual Christmas Raffle was also drawn. This was the last Meeting at Russells Hall Hospital, hopefully, more members & friends will attend the Drop-In when it moves to Merry Hill, January 2019.

Thursday, 8th November 2018
8 people attended this session with one lady for the first time. There was much discussion on ways to cope with Lupus during the winter, top of the list being to have the flu vaccination and to keep warm. The effects of Raynaud's and Diabetes with Lupus was also discussed. An enjoyable afternoon.

Thursday, 11th October 2018
Again, a gathering of 5. After viewing the Good Luck video sent by Sir Lenny Henry for the Lupus Information Day, 6th October, time was spent discussing the event and forward plans for the Drop-In. The usual question was also asked - 'where are the members who ask for Support Groups to be available?'

 Thursday, 13th September 2018
Beginning the session in the café, the 5 attendees moved into a meeting room when it became free. Following discussing plans for the forthcoming Information Day and a report on the visit to Merry Hill to check out the Community Room, a video of a presentation on Fatigue by Dr Natasha Jordan was shown. An excellent Talk with good advice and an enjoyable afternoon.

Thursday, 9th August 2018
With a low attendance of 5 (who are regulars and Committee members) it was decided to hold back on the planned presentation until more people are present, instead, there was discussion on the future of the Drop-in. It was agreed that facilities at the Merry Hill Centre should be investigated as the cost of car parking and the distance from the car park to CEC is thought to be the main reason for low attendance,

Thursday, 12th July 2018
With all the Meeting rooms being booked, the Drop-In was held in the café. Not a problem with just 4 attendees. A quiz on the effects of the sun brought a few surprising answers. The quiz may be repeated when more people are present. It was good to have Janet back albeit covered in bruises and with an arm in plaster, the results of a couple of nasty falls.

Thursday, 14th June 2018
This was a quiet Drop-In with only 4 attendees, including Lupus Specialist Nurse, Rene Koumi. Following discussion on lupus issues, the four ladies shared an enjoyable chat whilst watching finches feed their young on the inner courtyard of CEC. Yvonne and Peter will be back next month when they will be able to report on their recent Lupus Travels.  

Thursday, 10th May 2018
Unfortunately, due to a combination of unexpected events, the Drop-In had to be cancelled at short notice. Attempts were made to inform as many people as possible, however, not everyone picked up the news. Apologies go to those who had a fruitless journey to RHH.

Thursday, 12th April 2018
The Drop-In was preceded by WMLG AGM during which the existing Committee members were all re-elected. Caroline Heise had been nominated to join the Committee and she was elected unanimously. Welcome Caroline!
Following the AGM, Yvonne gave a presentation on Clinical Trials which led to a lively discussion.

Thursday, 8th March 2018
Yvonne gave a presentation on Fatigue which led to discussion and questions which Rene Koumi, Lupus Nurse, was able to respond to. Dr Niki Erb also popped in and updated the 9 members on changes that are planned by the CCG and RHH.
Sandra Harris, elected Governor of Dudley NHS Foundation Trust, will check this further and report back to Yvonne.

Thursday, 8th February 2018
A video of the presentation given by Prof Chris Edwards at the LUPUS UK AGM/Information Day, May 2017, in which he discussed current and new treatments for lupus, was watched by seven members.  Prof Edwards highlighted the reasons why certain medications are prescribed and how patients should expect to be treated. The new lady, recently diagnosed, who was present found this particularly helpful.

Thursday, 11th January 2018
The plan for the first session of the New Year was to consider the theme 'Facing up to Lupus' in three sections - 'What is Lupus?' How can we cope with Lupus?' 'Is there a New Year Plan for Lupus?'. Using a short introductory video and a series of Q & A's from LUPUS UK website, there was much discussion between the seven members present and the various symptoms leading to diagnosis and medications being taken were compared. The New Year Plan is still be worked out!

2019

Thursday 10th  January: Lupus - where do we go from here?
Thursday 14th  February: How is Lupus treated?
Thursday 14th  March: Presentation by Healthwatch, Dudley
Thursday 11th  April: WMLG AGM/Advances in treatments
Thursday  9th  May: World Lupus Day/Tax, Care & Toy Boys!
Thursday 13th  June: CANCELLED
Thursday 18th July: Coping with Lupus - NEW DATE
Thursday  8th August: Where is Lupus in the World?
Thursday 12th  September: Lupus & More - Hannah Guest
Thursday 10th  October: Lupus Awareness Month
Thursday 14th  November: Lupus & Winter
Thursday 12th  December: Lupus + 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