The Barrett’s Oesophagus National Symposium took place on Friday 11th April, a fascinating experience with many eminent speakers giving their research views on Barrett’s, which to a layman only a small amount was absorbed! Following this came the ‘Best Presentation of Research to a Lay Audience’, which was a competition for research fellows. Derek Larcombe presented the Lay Prize and Christine Caygill the Poster Prize. The final presentation was the McCord Prize, which I presented. The afternoon ended with a very successful Probe AGM. We had some Probe Members present, which resulted in a very useful question and answer session allowing all of us to put faces to familiar names.
At the Probe AGM I was officially confirmed as Probe’s new Chair. I was asked a few months ago whether I would be prepared to stand as Chair for Probe, I didn’t give an immediate answer, the responsibility of the position justified more than a quick yes or no. I knew I had a hard act to follow, Derek Larcombe has been totally dedicated during his time as Chair as has Robin Thomas before him, supported throughout by Charles Marchant-White and David Fletcher; would I be able to take Probe forward as they have done? The answer is yes, I can and I will. I know as a team a difference will be made.
My first step as Chair was to ensure we had a strong National Committee, which I feel we now have, it includes two new young members aged 26 and 24. The rationale behind this is that the younger generation need to be educated with regard to the signs and symptoms of Barrett’s as they are going to be as vulnerable and perhaps more so to this condition. These two young people are ideally suited to help take this forward in view of their father’s premature death from oesophageal cancer.
BOF have employed Third Sector PR who will help take Probe forward into the public domain. Their connections with the media, and the government will go a long way in achieving my determination in ensuring that there is public awareness of the signs and symptoms of Barrett’s, and the work that we are committed to.
It is my intention to open a branch of Probe in the City of London. We have a target group of potential Barrett’s sufferers in this area. It is going to take an immense amount of work to set this up successfully and I will be discussing this with our PR Company shortly. Again a younger generation will be approached as well as those in their forties and older.
Probe has an excellent website, which gives information on Barrett’s and through the patient forum allows concerns to be aired by sufferers or potential sufferers but I am concerned that 55% of Probe member do not have access to the web. This will have to be addressed so that they are updated regularly.
All gastroenterology departments, GPs and chemists should have leaflets readily available to patients showing the work of Probe in awareness and patient support. How we do this is being worked on at the moment.
The future of Probe is very positive and I am determined that through hard-work and a lot of determination we will make a difference to the lives of others. With the death of my husband from oesophageal cancer, which could have been prevented had we known the dangers of long term, persistent heartburn etched in my mind, I can assure you that I will do everything I can to secure the future of Probe.
Mimi McCord – Chair of Probe
