Crossed Grain February 2020

2 | SUPPORTER NEWS FIND YOUR LOCAL GROUP Whether you’ve been living with coeliac disease for years, are newly diagnosed, or want to help a loved one, it can be difficult to find support from people who understand. Coeliac UK has over 60 local groups across the UK, with members of all ages, from all walks of life ready to welcome you into their gluten free community. They can provide on the ground, local knowledge about the best gluten free products, venues and services in your area, so that you don’t have to face the challenges of gluten free living alone. To search for your local group, go to www.coeliac.org.uk/ localgroups , or take a peek at the events insert included with your Crossed Grain newsletter. CAN’T FIND A GROUP NEAR YOU? Running a local group can be highly rewarding and fun. For more information on setting one up in your area, contact volunteering @coeliac.org.uk “A real heart for children with coeliac disease” Remembering Anna Henderson - 30 May 1949 to 30 October 2019 by her husband, David Henderson One of Coeliac UK’s longest running members and local group organisers, Anna Henderson has sadly passed away, aged 70. Anna was diagnosed with coeliac disease at the age of 34, when she suffered life threatening illness following the birth of her second child. Getting diagnosed prompted a dramatic improvement in a lifetime of poor health, so much so that she later referred to the periods before and after as “BC” and “AC”. Unfortunately for Anna, she continued to suffer ill health which led to her early retirement. She turned her attention to helping other people with coeliac disease. She joined Coeliac UK and ran the West Sussex local group, where she dedicated many years to providing access to support throughout the county. Anna had a real heart for children with coeliac disease, and didn’t see why they should miss out on having fun. She launched her local group’s first family Fun Day at Butlin’s, Bognor Regis in 2018. The event proved a hit and was repeated in 2019. It will be continued this year in memory of Anna. One of Anna’s last requests was to encourage people to generously support Coeliac UK’s Research Fund. The Research Fund supports projects that will lead to better diagnosis and management of the disease, so that one day, no one’s life will be limited by gluten. You can donate to our Research Fund by visiting www.coeliac.org.uk/donate GPs are the gatekeepers for the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease. Here are just some of the ways we work with them to improve diagnosis and provide better care for people with coeliac disease: Sharing knowledge Our annual Research Conference, running for over a decade, is now an established event in the calendar of healthcare professionals. This year, we’re hosting the event at the Royal College of General Practitioners, where we hope to engage more GPs than ever, providing them with updates on the latest research and best practice. Starting conversation We’ve made it easier for busy GPs to learn more about coeliac disease by increasing our presence at their training days and conferences. This creates more opportunities for direct discussion, allowing us to better understand any gaps in their knowledge and how best to support them. Adding value Did you know that guidance on diagnosis and management of coeliac disease for GPs is 145 pages, and the summary guide is 21 pages? Using feedback from GPs, we have produced a one page ‘at a glance’ infographic on diagnosis and management to ensure coeliac disease stays top of mind at busy times. We’ve also developed a checklist for annual reviews which can be used by your GP if they are the healthcare professional carrying out annual reviews in your area. Why not share our resources with your GP surgery? Download the one page infographic at coeliac.org.uk/niceguidelines Download the annual review checklist at coeliac.org.uk/archecklist Thank you to all of our supporters, without whom none of this life changing work would be possible. OUR LATEST FOCUS ON GPs