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WE’RE ON THE MOVE

Crohn’s and Colitis UK is moving from St Albans to Hatfield, six miles east. From 6 August our new address will be: First Floor, Helios Court, 1 Bishop Square, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield AL10 9NE

HOURS EXTENDED FOR LIVECHAT

Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s Information Service has extended its hours. The LiveChat service now matches those of the Helpline: 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (except English bank holidays) and 9am to 1pm on Thursday.

Call 0300 222 5700 or visit crohnsandcolitis. org.uk/livechat for information on: l Medication l Symptoms l Tests and diagnosis l Dietary questions l Employment issues l Welfare benefits

Crohn’s and Colitis UK has played a key role in delivering training for health assessors who are responsible for completing Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) assessments. The aim is to improve health assessors’ awareness of the challenges of living with IBD, which will help people with Crohn’s and Colitis access the benefits they need. “By improving the knowledge of these health assessors about what it’s like to live with IBD, we hope that people will have better outcomes when applying for benefits,” says Lauren PhillipsBrighouse, helplines manager at Crohn’s and Colitis UK. “We know that our members struggle to go through these assessments due to the fluctuating nature of IBD.” Four training sessions took place over the last couple of months in Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and London, with 250 to 300 participants at each session. Crohn’s and Colitis UK commissioned Disability Rights UK to research the barriers in the system for those applying for ESA and Personal Independence Payment. This knowledge has informed how the charity supports members, including through its Information Service Helpline and for training the benefit assessors. SESSIONS AIM TO HELP PEOPLE WITH IBD RECEIVE SUPPORT

Training for health assessors is vital

LIVING OUR VALUES NEW VIDEO LAUNCHED

An inspiring new film featuring animated illustrations is putting the spotlight on Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s values.

The video highlights the values through people involved with the charity, from 10-year-old fundraiser Gabby and GP Kevin Barrett to chief executive David Barker and other members of the Crohn’s and Colitis UK team. Watch it, and read more about the people in it, at crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/ values

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS

BOOK ONLINE AT crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/PEP Places are limited. C rohn’s and Colitis UK’s Patient Education Programme offers patients the chance to learn more about IBD and to hear from specialists about living with and managing their condition. Each free event features expert speakers and a Q&A session. UPCOMING SESSIONS MANCHESTER Novotel Manchester West Sunday 24 June 2018 Veronica Hall, nurse consultant in gastroenterology, and Khashia Mulbagal, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, talk about pregnancy and fertility. Sunday 14 October 2018 Cath Stansfield, nurse consultant in gastroenterology at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, looks at practical tips on living with IBD, and Dr Claire Rehan, consultant clinical psychologist at Royal Bolton Hospital , speaks about coping with IBD. Sunday 2 December 2018 Dr Salil Singh, consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, will answer the question: ‘What is IBD and what should I expect from diagnosis and investigations?’ Lisa Fell, specialist gastroenterology dietitian, addresses the role of diet in IBD.

Sunday 3 February 2019

Consultant gastroenterologist

Dr Simon Campbell speaks on drug treatments in IBD; Dr Paul Collins, consultant gastroenterologist at The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, looks at new treatments; and Lynn Gray, IBD Nurse Consultant, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, looks at alternative treatments for IBD. Sunday 21 April 2019 Dr Jonathan Epstein, consultant general and colorectal surgeon at

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, looks at surgery and IBD, while George Lipscomb, consultant gastroenterologist and physician at the Royal Bolton Hospital, will address cancer and IBD. LONDON The Wesley Euston Hotel and Conference Venue Sunday 1 July 2018 The sessions are: ‘Coping with IBD’ (speaker TBC), and Dr Shuvra Ray, consultant gastroenterologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, discusses new treatments in IBD. Saturday 15 September 2018 Alex Hall, IBD clinical nurse specialist at Homerton University Hospital, discusses ‘What is IBD and what should I expect from diagnosis and investigations?’. Megan Houghton, IBD dietitian, King’s College

Hospital, will look at the role of diet in IBD.

Saturday 13 October 2018 Dr Nora Thoua, consultant gastroenterologist at Homerton University Hospital, talks about pregnancy and fertility. Plus ‘Living with IBD’ (speaker from Crohn’s and Colitis UK TBC). Sunday 18 November 2018 Mr Janindra Warusavitarne, colorectal surgeon at St Mark’s Hospital, speaks on surgery and IBD. Kay Greveson, IBD clinical nurse specialist at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, will look at ‘Travel and IBD’. IBD SPECIALISTS WILL SHARE KNOWLEDGE AT MANCHESTER AND LONDON SESSIONS Cath Stansfield Dr Jonathan Epstein Alex Hall