Beat the pain: recognition for Northern Ireland training

NEWS RELEASE

22 February 2007   Immediate release

Pat on the back for Arthritis Care’s pain management courses

Arthritis Care has been selected as a finalist in the pain management category of the prestigious Healthcare Awards organised by the Northern Ireland Medical Review. (22 Feb 2007)     

‘It’s fantastic to be nominated, especially in Arthritis Care’s diamond jubilee year. One of the key achievements of its 60 years has been to pioneer self-management courses - to help  people to live to the max  despite a condition for which there is no cure, said Kate Fleck, director of Arthritis Care Northern Ireland.

‘Services for arthritis are patchy in the province. There is a severe shortage of consultant rheumatologists and rheumatology nurses, and, until everybody with arthritis has equal access to treatment and therapy, it’s crucial that people can attend courses to help them manage. Against that background, it’s great to have this recognition of the contribution made by Arthritis Care’s courses’, she said.

The Arthritis Care courses are run throughout Northern Ireland by specially trained volunteers, like Nancy Toner, who all have arthritis themselves. 

‘I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was sixteen. The first symptoms were painful, hot thumbs, this gradually spread throughout all of my joints. For many years I was completely in the dark and very frightened about what was happening to my body. Any information for a patient was often very difficult to come by. Years of hospital appointments, trial and error with various medications, culminated in my first joint replacement at the age of 39’, she said.

‘In 2003, I saw an advert for Challenging Arthritis. This was a turning point in my life. Going on the course enabled me to meet other people who had exactly the same pain and problems that I had been living with for so many years. After the course I was asked to become a training volunteer – I had got so much out of the course that I was very happy to spread the good news and started my training immediately,’ said Ms Toner.

‘Challenging Arthritis’ is a free course of six workshops on pain management, relaxation techniques, action planning, and diet and exercise. It also helps to build confidence in dealing with health professionals, and gives participants the opportunity to meet other people with arthritis.   The workshops are two hours each week

‘You can Break the Pain Cycle’ is a half-day pain management course, designed to teach a range of pain management techniques – including relaxation, stress management,  exercise, and how to handle fatigue. 

Planned Northern Ireland courses

In the next six to nine months, courses are planned in the following areas

Challenging Arthritis

Antrim (Rathenraw)

Belfask (Shankill area)

Carrickfergus

Coleraine (Ballysally)

Cookstown (Gortalowry House)

Fermanagh (Devenish area)

Londonderry

Newcastle

Pomeroy

Portadown

South Armagh

You Can Break the Pain Cycle – half-day course

There are upcoming courses in:

Belfast (East)

Lisburn

Newcastle (Parish Centre)

Newtownards branch (Tower View Day Centre)

Notes to editors

For more information,  please call

Kate Fleck, Director, Arthritis Care Northern Ireland  07876 508652
028 9448 1380

Jane Spence
Media Relations Manager,
Arthritis Care,
18 Stephenson Way
London NW1 2HD
www.arthritiscare.org.uk
 
Direct Line: 020 7380 6551 
Mobile:        07795 428511   

janes@arthritiscare.org.uk