Peter Randle CSci CEng CITP CMath CChem
Elected: Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
Peter Randle, Awareness Representative for Dorset, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (December 2004) as a Distinguished Scientist. Peter will be a member of the Wessex Region and belong to the Endocrinology and Diabetes Section. He hopes the RSM and its Fellows will provide an excellent forum for discussion and that this support will also strengthen his work with the Pituitary Foundation (UK).
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The National Organisation, the Pituitary Foundation (UK) based in Bristol received funding for a 3-year awareness programme: 2003-2005. During its 2nd year, when the Foundation was making most of its contacts to GPs, I decided to create a website for the South-West and starting with the county where I am currently based, Dorset. During the first few months we have now had 500 visitors and I am restructuring the site and hoping to implement changes as a result of the many conversations from friends and colleagues and carers.
Do make contact should you wish. Either as patient, Health Professional or possibly a volunteer. The website continues to evolve and it is hoped this will provide a place to visit when browsing other Community projects and also to provide a direct link and response from the National office at Bristol and their excellent team nation-wide.
Finally but not least; Pituitary Foundation has re-introduced it's Telephone Buddies where there will be an experienced person the other end to talk and discuss concerns and to request advice. Please visit the Contact's Page for full details.
Your comments will be welcomed and if there is something you feel should be here but you cannot find; please do not hesitate to send an email or telephone me.
Peter Randle
Dorset Pituitary Foundation Awareness Representative
Copyright © 2004-2008 Peter Randle
Barbara is the first AC for Dorset
The Pituitary Foundation's national network of Local Support Groups is managed by volunteer lead roles called Area Co-ordinators (ACs). Barbara is the first AC for Dorset and works to support patients and carers directly within the Dorset area.
This week (28th March - 3rd April 2004), has been very busy for those involved with creating a Dorset Pituitary Contact point and website. I was first introduced to Barbara on Monday when we spoke for sometime over the telephone. Immediately, the strength of character is heard in her voice. A strong pleasant voice and although I now know she originates from Liverpool, I did not immediately recognise a Liverpudlian accent. Anyone reading or hearing her story and fight for recovery will know she has suffered. This has certainly made a stronger woman with grit and determination, however she remains bubbly and enthusive through our interesting 30 minute conversation and then many daily emails. Barbara has direct and previous experience of Poole and Bournemouth hospitals and so any patient wishing to discuss their difficulties and illness will know Barbara understands and possibly even has met your consultant.
This website has already been visited by over 80 people and I am pleased to say organisations such as Diabetes UK Association have surprised me when I telephoned on a different matter as early as Tuesday afternoon by saying they had visited the site already. However, the site is for Dorset and South West People and hopefully for those outside of the area wishing to establish contact and to share experiences and exchange ideas. Now-a-days this is most easily done by email. The site has a mail form which will alert us of your comments, suggestions and requests. Should you wish to be placed in contact with Barbara, myself or our Telephone Buddies (telephone number shown on Telephone buddies page), then please send us an email via the mail form now. All contact is confidential and we ask that you understand that those reading any email are either patients or medics and don't forget medics and health professionals get illnesses and so there are health professionals and carers who also have their own ill-health and really do understand.
You will find Barbara and myself open to ideas and suggestions. We will say what has worked for us or others but ease patient suffering finds their own way through the "jungle". If you want to consider Alternative Therapies with Traditional Medicine or what to consider Faith and Spiritual ways to strengthen your path and goals please do not hesitate to make contact. If we cannot help we will be with you seeking advice from others. Both Barbara and I are in contact Nationally and when you read Barbara story (Rural Support) you will see she sought the help from the USA before having proper diagnosis and treatment here in the UK. I am qualified and have direct contact and links to EU, Canada, USA, and Australia via professional organisations. I have also worked with National Governments on legislation and so even if you require extra help you will be supported where ever possible. Just read of the Victory the National Pituitary Foundation has had with NICE and provision of Growth Hormone products.
This week my diagnosis of Diabetes was confirmed. EVen as I write this to introduce Barbara I feel it is important to emphasize that we understand and you should know that Barbara will understand each stage of uncertainty, feel dispondent when ignored by sometimes very arrogant professionals who confidentially say there is nothing wrong when in actual fact the subject area is outside of their own experience. Like Barbara when I first visited my GP very concerned I was showing signs of ill-health and as a plc Board Director did not wish to become ill. I was told "Go away and stop thinking about it" It is "psychosomatic" the fact I had suddenly gained one stone in weight in less than a month when my weight had been the same for over 10 years! Despite reducing sauces and decreasing fats, 3 months later my fasting Cholesterol level was nearly 10nmol/L - very high. The same GP when a hospital implied serious illness said "You can't have!". I already have one patient with that and you would push me over the national average - Oh for statistical analysis to be better studied and understood!
Finally on a very positive note: There are medics and nurses and other health professionals out there who care who really did study all those years to help and uncover new approaches and who do understand people cope in different ways and the body is more complex than litmus paper turning red in a solution of acid.
30th April 2008
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An Early Awareness volunteer is in the sphere of publicity and awareness. Barbara is also an EAP volunteer and visits local clinics with posters and leaflets. But, Barbara looks after the whole county in terms of patient support. As a rural area, there are no regular meetings as such but if you wish any events to be planned, I'm sure Barbara will let you know to advertise on the Dorset website. |
