September 16, 2008

MP LAUNCHES NEW DIABETES GROUP

John at the launch with Stuart White, Dr David Plews, Beryl Hodgson, Susan Braithwaite, Mavis Skipper and Rose Seabury (from Diabetes UK).

A NEW support group for people with diabetes has been set up in part of Rotherham.

John Healey MP has agreed to be president of the Wath-based ‘Families with diabetes and their carers’ and spoke at the launch yesterday.

The group is for families living with diabetes in Swinton, Wath, West Melton and Brampton.

He said: “Diabetes is so common. 300 new people are diagnosed every day and there is an iceberg of people who have got the condition but haven’t had it diagnosed.

“But until it affects you or someone close to you you don’t know about the complications or ways you can cope and manage the condition. People do need information, advice and support.”

He said many people had told him they found the existing Diabetes UK group which meets in the evenings at Rotherham hospital difficult to get to.

 “This group is filling a real gap,” he added. “Now this network of support has been launched it will go from strength to strength.”

The group is the brainchild of Susan Braithwaite, 56, who came up with the idea just three months ago.

She said: “There wasn’t anything like this locally. I thought that by setting the group up here we were filling a need. Where people perhaps wouldn’t travel to Rotherham they would come to Montgomery Hall.

“I am hoping it will mean people can get a better understanding of the condition so they can manage it better and I am hoping friendships can be formed.”

Meeting times and their frequency has yet to be decided. People were asked to fill in surveys at the launch giving their preferences. The group is expected to meet during the day at Montgomery Hall in Wath, which is also where the launch was held.

Susan is being helped by other committee members Beryl Hodgson, Stuart White and Mavis Skipper. The group has the support of local GPs and national charity Diabetes UK.

If you want to be part of the group you can contact Susan on 07513 908105.