Another coffee morning, this time in Coleraine. More of the same to come……
RVHLSG Charity Founder visits St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin
St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin celebrated its Liver Transplant 30th Anniversary with a Patient Education Day in O’Reilly Hall, UCD, Belfield, Dublin on October 14th . There were a number of practical talks on living with a liver transplant with recent updates in the field of transplantation in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the National Liver Transplant Programme. The day started with an introduction given by Mr Justin Geoghegan, Consultant Transplant Surgeon with further insights into the last thirty years of transplantation by Prof Oscar Traynor and Prof Aiden McCormick.
Kay Duffy, OBE, and founder of the Liver Support Group was invited down to the event to give an insight in to the support network provided by the Group within Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland does not have a similar network and therefore patients with any type of liver condition cannot avail of the wide number of services provided to patients in NI.
Kay Duffy, Founder, Arthur Goan, Vice Chairman, Dr Sharon Millen, Head of Research and Rachel Quinney Mee, Child & Adolescent Patient Carer representing the RVH Liver Support Group attended.
Liver Support Group now offers a “quiet place” amidst a busy ward…..
We, the RVH Liver Support Group, are proud to let you know that we have kitted out the glasshouse, as it was known, in Ward 6D of the RVH Regional Liver Unit. This room is now affectionately known as “The Quiet Room” and has been refurbished and fitted out by the Charity with a new reclining sofa and chair. These items will recline as shown in the picture and also provide USB charging connectivity. As well as this we have provided a Nespresso coffee machine and microwave oven. Tableware, cutlery and associated accessories are also provided. The Charity will keep the room clean and stocked with coffee pods, teabags and sugar on an ongoing basis.
The Quiet Room is for the sole use of our patients whilst in Ward 6D and their families when visiting, for private conversations between medical staff and patients/families and a place of repose for the medical team within the Ward when needed . It is hoped that everyone will treat the room with the respect and dignity that it deserves.
Masonic Provincial Priories Golfing Society raises £2500.00 for RVHLSG
On Friday , Sept 29th 2023 the Masonic Provincial Priories Golfing Society Competition presented a cheque to Jim Kilpatrick, Chairman of the RVH Liver Support Group after a successful golf tournament at Killymoon Golf Club. Thank you all for a fantastic amount raised of £2,500.
Members Lunch Sept 2023
The RVH Liver Support Group hosted their annual Member’s lunch at the Dunsilly Hotel Antrim on Sunday September 10th 2023. There were over 80 members having a great lunch and chat with many friends. A few pictures opposite capture the occasion on what was a beautiful day in so many ways.
Our First Coffee Morning
Jim, Patricia and Arthur were in attendance at our very first coffee morning on August 7th in Cafe Cure beside Bangor Town Hall. The first event was very well attended with 25 patients and family members joining the Liver Support Group. Everyone agreed that is was a very beneficial way to meet others who were on the same journey. The RVH Liver Support Group will be planning more of these events soon right across N Ireland. Please keep an eye on our social media channels for future planned coffee events.
World Hepatitis Day 2023
Friday, July 28th, was WORLD HEPATITIS DAY. The Public Health Agency (PHA) continues to remind us that anyone can be at risk of hepatitis, as latest statistics show that there were 122 new cases of hepatitis B cases and 191 new cases of hepatitis C diagnosed here in 2022.*
Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said: “There are several different types of hepatitis. Some types will pass without any serious problems, while others can be more severe and long-lasting.
“The symptoms of hepatitis can often be vague, or not very noticeable which means there will people be living with the infection without realising it. If you think you may be at risk of infection from hepatitis then we would encourage you to get tested, or speak to your GP.”
Dr Gillian Armstrong, Public Health Consultant at the PHA said: “Hepatitis B tends to be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby or through contact with infected bodily fluids.
“In Northern Ireland, new infections with hepatitis B tend to be from sexual contact with an infected person.
“Hepatitis C is commonly associated with sharing needles or injecting equipment. It can also be spread by having a tattoo or body piercing done using non-sterile equipment.
“The good news is that there is a vaccine to help prevent hepatitis B, and treatment for hepatitis C is now very effective.
“Therefore, we are encouraging people to come forward for testing if they think they could be at risk, for example if they have had a tattoo or piercing where there are concerns about the hygiene standards of the practice, if they have received medical or dental treatment abroad where equipment has not been sterilised properly or if they have ever injected drugs, even if this was only once or some time ago.
Hepatitis comes in various forms, but the most serious are hepatitis B and C both of which can cause chronic liver damage and cirrhosis.
Hepatitis A and E can be transmitted through contaminated food and water but tend to be self limiting infections for most individuals.
“The theme for World Hepatitis Day in 2023 is ‘We’re not waiting’,” said Dr Neil McDougall, Consultant Hepatologist in the Regional Liver Unit, Belfast Trust.
“Our target is to eliminate Hepatitis C as a public health concern in Northern Ireland by 2025.
“We now have fantastic tablet based treatments for hepatitis C with minimal side effects and a cure rate of nearly 100%. But we can only achieve our target if we identify people with hepatitis C and offer them effective treatment.”
Susan Semple, Consultant Nurse at Belfast Inclusion Health Service said: “We are not waiting. It’s time to get ahead – test, treat and cure and work together to eliminate viral hepatitis.
“We want to offer the chance to get tested to anyone who may be at risk of having hepatitis B or C.”
Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact following sexual intercourse, injury with contaminated sharp instruments or other equipment by intravenous drug misusers, or by perinatal transmission from mother to child.
The Hepatitis C virus is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Some examples of ways blood can be transferred include sharing razors and toothbrushes or sharing unsterilized needles – for example while injecting drugs. Sexual transmission and transmission from mother to child do occur, but this is less frequent than in hepatitis B cases.
Dr Armstrong concluded: “We hope as many people a possible will avail of this opportunity to get tested and help us work towards eliminating hepatitis. It is also important to know about how to avoid becoming infected. This includes practising safer sex, avoiding getting tattoos abroad and not sharing needles or injecting equipment. Clean injecting equipment can be obtained from various needle exchange sites across Northern Ireland to reduce the risk from these infections.”
Hepatitis instances
Hepatitis B in NI in 2022: 121 cases, 22% increase on 2021.
Hepatitis C in NI in 2022: 191 cases, 19% decrease on 2021.
We are over at the British Transplant Games
RVH Liver Support Group members have joined the British Transplant Games in Coventry this weekend. L-R is Dylan Caughey, Rachel Chambers, Sharon Millen (Committee Member) and Jim Kilpatrick (Chairman). We wish them all every success in the games.
NIAOC Run to Enniskillen for the RVH Liver Support Group
On behalf of everyone in the RVH Liver Support Group team I (Arthur) would like to thank both the NIAOC admin team for their great work in putting together a fantastic event and all of the work involved in organising the raffle which was held on the day at Castlecoole and all the members of the Audi Owners Club who attended. There were some great car shots at the front of the building (thank you Shootfactory-NI) at Castlecoole and at Navar viewpoint which we went to afterwards; no doubt a few good memories. I’ve tried to capture as much of our convoy, and as many memories, in the attached video compilation; I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.
Second, a big word of thanks to all those who donated so many worthy prizes for the raffle for, without your support, it would not have been possible. And to all of you who purchased those raffle tickets or made direct contributions through my JustGiving page 
.
.The event raised the fantastic amount of £574.00 through JustGiving page and the raffle. When Gift Aid is added from the JustGiving page (income tax at the lower threshold) the total amount is £690.00. Again, thank you so much for this and be assured that every penny of this will be spent on the wellbeing of our many liver patients, providing financial assistance during transplant events, funding for medical equipment at the Regional Liver Unit in RVH or continued hepatology research within the medical team at RVH. I will leave the page live until the end of July in the case of perhaps other NIAOC members who weren’t able to join us on the day who may wish to lend support to our charity which is celebrating 25 years this year helping liver patients.
If you would like to find out a little more about what we do please have a look here
Until the next time, look after yourselves and each other 
If you would like to see a high res version of the video clip (and download it) I have shared it on my OneDrive account here :-
Councillor Mark Cooper BEM lends Mayoral support to three charities.
Councillor Mark Cooper, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, announced that, during his Mayoral year, he will be lending his support to three incredible charities, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice , RVH Liver Support Group and Action Deaf Youth
Each one is very close to his heart as he has been a long-time supporter of the Hospice and is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community. However, he has been particularly grateful to the RVH Liver Support Group for their support to his family, as his Mum is currently on the transplant waiting list. All three of these charities provide a vital service and he looks forward to raising awareness of the fantastic work they do, as well as raising much needed funds throughout the year.
There will be many opportunities to donate throughout the year and he would ask everyone to give what you can to support these fantastic causes.
For more information or to donate, please visit antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/mayorscharities
The RVH Liver Support Group would like to thank the Mayor for his support during this year and we wish his Mum well.