Citation
(2010), "Rheumatology family support network", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 40 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2010.01740eab.028
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Rheumatology family support network
Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 40, Issue 5.
A specialist consultant from the West Midlands Paediatric Rheumatology Network has been awarded top prize by a panel of clinical experts for establishing a much needed clinical support network for young patients and their families in the West Midlands.
Dr Bailey set up the support network to address the large variations in care experienced by young people with JIA and to ensure they receive the best quality care irrespective of where they live. A central part of the scheme is an education day for parents. Mums and dads of young sufferers are able to talk to other parents and professionals about their experiences of care, what has worked and helped their children and what they would like to see done better. One in every thousand children is diagnosed with JIA each year, almost as many as diabetes, and yet there are huge gaps in awareness, standards of care and access to services. JIA is an inflammatory autoimmune disease caused when a child's immune system starts attacking healthy joints, most commonly hands, feet and wrists. It can also affect eyes in young people as well as other organs. It is a debilitating long term condition that causes severe stiffness and is the biggest cause of childhood disability.