Hi my name is Janine and I am writing to introduce myself as Support Worker for Birmingham Centre of Excellence. I started working for Behcets Patients Centres Ltd on the 17th September and have so far spent time understanding Behcets, the society and reading this forum to get an insight into patients experiences. My first clinic will be at City hospital, Birmingham on Friday the 5th October 2012.
My role as support worker will be to provide an independent advocacy service to patients and families with regard to benefits advice and assistance with claim forms where necessary, to make referral’s and signpost to other healthcare professionals for any further assistance required (i.e.: Occupational therapists, social workers and psychological support), to provide lifestyle support and information about the disease to newly diagnosed patients and to offer practical support group work.
I am currently trying to make links with organisations to raise awareness of the disease and to access support groups that maybe available for patients living with long term conditions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Janine Davies
Hello Janine
thank you for taking the time to drop by and say hello. I wish you well in your new role, it must be very exciting to be the first person ever to do a job because you make the job whatever you want it to be! There is so much to learn hear by reading our experiences - we have all been amazed at ourselves and have learnt so much. It is also very empowering to be with people who understand the very specific and sometimes very troubling difficulties we face as individuals and as a group. I hope that by keeping up to date with us you will be able to ensure that the medics and associated professions are also kept up to date. I'm particularly thinking about conditions or ailments that are either 'definitely not BD' or 'unlikely to be BD.' When so many of us complain of the same ailments then, although it's not firm evidence, surely it's an indication that these ailments should be investigated.
Sorry, on my soap-box! I just wanted to say hello really...
love
Di
Hi Devonshiredumpling,
Thanks for gettig in touch. I'm very excited about my new role and all of the knowledge I can gain from people like yourself. It's a lot to learn and i'm taking it one day at a time! I will be sure to keep you up to date with my progress within my role as I settle in!
If you have any other queries please don't hesitate to drop me a message and I look forward to lots of interaction via the forum in the future.
Speak soon,
Janine