Support Groups within the Trust
Listed below are the support groups that are run by the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust.
If you would like further information about any of these groups, please contact
Breast Care Unit
West Suffolk & Thetford Cancer Support Group
Meet Tuesdays at WSH, Fridays at Thetford, 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Sudbury. More information...
Newmarket Breast Care Support Group
Meet 2nd and 4th Thursday at Newmarket.
The Young Ones
Meets last Wednesday in the month at WSH, specifically for under 50's breast patients.
Note: All breast care groups are informal, have speakers, aromotherapists monthly, patients/friends/families attend, majority are breast patients.
Cancer Services
West Anglia Cancer Network's Patient / User Forum
Forum where patients / carers can suggest changes would wish to see made in the future, suggest improvements to current services, involvement in planning of future services.
Coronary Care Unit / Cardiology
Rehabilitation support for MI Patients
Meets weekly, patients are supported through talks, guidance on medication, exercise programs.
Diabetes
Friendship / Support Group
For children with diabetes and their families. Meet monthly for support and chat, demonstrations of equipment and occasional talks by dietician.
Note: Diabetes Nurses are largely employed by the LHP - so other Diabetes Support Groups are run by LHP.
Medicine for the Elderly
Patient Carer Group
For inpatients and carers, meets weekly on Monday afternoons. Mainly educational on a rolling program to accommodate new inpatients. Includes speakers from DRC etc., relevant and useful information, how to cope etc.
Stroke Carer Support Group
Meets once a month on Tuesdays, forum for carers to express fears, worries and concerns, provides information on support networks and local groups.
ITU
Follow Up Clinic
Support offered to patients (and families) who have spent more than 4 days in ITU. Patients visited if consequently moved to HDU or wards weekly. Discharged patients contacted at 2, 6 and 12 months. Patients are supported through any problems, information exchanged, patients and staff keep diaries of their time in ITU so they know what has happened to them, counselling for relatives.
Maternity & Gynaecology
MLSC (Midwifery Services Liaison Committee)
All Hospitals have these groups if they give maternity care. Members include GP, Consultant Obstetrician, Lay members, Head of Midwifery, usually an Operational Manager or similar, Health Visitor, Breastfeeding Midwife representative and usually one or 2 midwives.
Teenage Pregnancy Information Days
Provides a forum for feedback from mothers on how services can be improved.
Note: See also SCBU. Maternity & Gynaecology also have regular meetings with lay groups - National Childcare Trust, Breastfeeding Network, La Leche league etc.
Ophthalmology
West Suffolk Voluntary Service for the Blind
Available every day, they attend clinics and support patients newly registered blind or partially sighted, provide emotional and logistical support, how to cope etc.
Paediatrics
Diabetic Friendship Support Group
Meets monthly, run by diabetic nurses.
Nicky's Way
Meetings at the hospice, for children who are bereaved.
Respiratory Medicine
Breathe Easy
Support group meets 3rd Thursday of every month, for patients with serious respiratory illness (e.g. COPD), currently undergoing restructuring, meetings are outside hospital but are run by a staff member.
SCBU
Parent Support Group
Meet monthly, began October 2001 with 10 families. BLISS charity provided funding grant, launch expected early 2002. Involves group discussion on bereavement, future pregnancies, experiences on the Unit, fund-raising. Hope to arrange a coffee morning in the near future.
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