Manchester & North West Branch

President:

Mr R. J. Brough, MBChB FRCS MD

Branch Secretary

Mr Harry Lee
21 Woodlands Drive
Offerton
Stockport
Cheshire
SK2 5AJ
Tel: 0161 4835325
Email: hlee7@ntlworld.com

About the branch:

Having a urinary diversion in our area?

Or have you had one already ?

If the answer is yes, then we may be able to help. We`ve all had the operation ourselves, so we all know what it`s like.

Don't be alone - we can help you to deal with your concerns.

After all, we – following our predecessors – have been meeting since 1971, when our indomitable founder, urostomist Valerie Kings, MBE, together with specialist nurse, the late Laurie Kenefick, and finally consultant urologist Mr Raymond Carroll, got together in Manchester to set up the Urostomy Association, which is now a national body.

We have in this Branch about 150 members, and we cover a wide area,-roughly Manchester and 30 miles round. You can get in touch with us by telephone, or at the internet addresses given below.

We`re still doing what our Founders were aiming at:

• Meeting together to encourage and support one another
  
  
• Visiting men and women who are about to have a urinary diversion, and want to know what to expect
  
  
• Helping those who encounter problems in dealing with their diversion
  
  
• Raising money for research into ways of improving treatment
  
  
• Generally acting to promote the interests of people with a Urinary Diversion.

Branch activities: The Branch holds three meetings per year, two at Hope Hospital, Salford (February and October) and one at the Christie Hospital, Manchester (AGM in May). All meetings are attended by representatives of the appliance manufacturers and generally we have a speaker which we try to alternate between medical and non-medical. We also include “problem corner” so that members can submit a question (relating to urological topics) to be answered by the committee or other qualified person (quite often by the members attending the meeting).

We get together at about one o clock, and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat. The appliance manufacturers exhibit their products, and there's a chance to talk to their representatives. The meeting starts at 2.00, by which time there are usually 60-70 of us gathered. There is normally a talk by a visiting speaker – and often, though not always, a consultant urologist on hand to answer questions during our 'problem corner'. This is the time when members can raise questions of interest, and can pick the brains of our President who is a Consultant Urologist, and our Chair, Cath Bradley, a former stoma specialist sister.

There is a bring a buy stall and a raffle to raise money to help cover costs, and at the end of the meeting we finish with a cup of tea (keeping our fluid intake up !).

It`s all very sociable and light-hearted, and we go away cheered by contact with other people who have shared our experience.

We will be delighted to welcome, at any of our meetings, anyone who thinks that we can help them – or indeed anyone who feels that they can help others.

Forthcoming meetings:

For further details contact the Branch Secretary

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