As some of you are aware, the Surrey Arrhythmia Support Group (Surrey ASG) has held regular monthly meetings for 6 years at Epsom Hospital in Surrey. The founder and Patient Lead of the Group is known on this forum as RosyG and the Medical Lead is Dr Abhay Bajpai, an EP (Electrophysiologist) based at St George’s Hospital, London. Specialist Arrhythmia Nurse Stephanie Cruickshank also attends meetings regularly.
Due to the Coronavirus, it was necessary to suspend meetings after February but on 3 June, there are plans to pilot a “virtual” zoom meeting which if successful, may mean that future Zoom meetings can be opened up to a wider group which many here on the forum would, I’m sure, find helpful.
The pilot meeting held on the 3rd June will be a questions and answers session with Dr Bajpai, Stephanie Cruickshank and Rosemary Najim. For this meeting, audio/visual involvement using Zoom will be limited to regular members of the Group.
However, if ANY forum members would like to ask a question relating to their AF and would value the view of a medical expert then they can email their question to info@surreyasg.co.uk by Thursday 28 May. If it’s possible, those people with questions will be invited to join the meeting so that they can hear the replies. As many questions as possible will be included but if there are too many, the Surrey ASG will select questions on topics which come up the most.
Please understand that this is a pilot scheme designed to help as many people as possible but using technology many are not familiar with, so please be patient!
More information about the Surrey ASG can be found on their webpage,
I think the Zoom programme Rosemary will be using is more of a commercial one used for business, training and conference calls etc. As I understand it, if someone emails her a question, she returns with an email providing more information about the meeting plus a log in code to enable easy access to the zoom site. The meeting will start at 1700 hours and will last for an hour or so.......
Good idea FJ although I am resisting calls to Zoom as the format seems to invite chaos. With a time delay between voices I'm told it can be confusing rather like watsapp conference calls on smart phones if patience and a good strong chairperson are not active. You can end up with lotsof voices talking at once. You also need a camera on your PC which I do not have although people tell me these new fangled lap top thingies have them built in. lol
Hi all! You can download the zoom app on your cell and so the same with zoom if you need. It will also work fine. You can have it where they see you, or if not prepared-they can only see your cell number or a picture of you💫
Great idea FJ using this type of technology, I think a lot of new working practices and learning aids plus meetings will benefit from sharing in this way reducing travel and expanding knowledge . Just touching on what Bob mentions about the laptop camera , a few weeks ago I joined a meeting with a couple of colleagues and one forgot the fact that anything behind him would be seen live by all in the group , and the laughter that ensued from the rest of the party as two children started knocking seven bells out of each other in the background then his wife run in, partially clothed, then when he said " your live you now on camera " she hurriedly did a basil faulty backward dance out of shot, it was better than most TV at the moment, totally ruined the meeting for 15 mins with everyone howling laughing 🤣
A it of reassurance! We've been teaching on Zoom since lockdown and have got good at muting noisy children!! You do need the camera as Bob has said but otherwise all ok! What will be different s we will have three hosts- have been having two but will see what happens! If people want to insert a virtual background it retains privacy- or just listen and don't activate video! Any questions to info@surreyasg as Flapjack has organised please
Sounds great FlapJack. I’ve had lots of Zoom meetings and training sessions, especially in the last few week with people in the UK, US, Asia and Australia. We’re very connected even though we are far apart. The technology has generally been very good.
That sounds really interesting, we have been introduced to Zoom during lockdown, my husband has had a committed meeting and we’ve done a family quiz. Seems to work quite well once you get used to the time delay. Anything that keeps people connected is good.
Zoom has worked well for all the clubs I belong to . My largest meeting has 20 people regularly and we have all learned how to speak without interrupting, a valuable skill anyway!
The organiser can mute your mic and just unmute if you raise your hand with a question. This has only been necessary once when my archaeology group became excited at seeing each other again for the first time.
This is a great opportunity Rosie and Flapjack. Thank you. X
I too have found it useful to take classes and even Pilates on Zoom. It's very easy to use. It works better if it is firmly chaired and people don't speak until invited. But you get the hang if it. And the host can mute everyone's microphones if they want, till it's time to speak. So I look forward to signing up,
Just discovered your post, as I’m sittting here , having a little panic .... My heart rate has suddenly started going at over 150 bpm .......Everything’s been so good for ages , it must be the hot weather .....
That’s the plan, but we ask folk to be patient. This is a pilot run by RosyG with very little or no direct technical support. Bear in mind the size of the membership of this forum and because we have no idea how many forum members will ask questions and then seek access to the pilot meeting, we just want members to understand that there may be some problems on the day.
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
I'm new here and to AF
New to this AF nightmare!
meet up at AF patient day 
