A busy time for NAPS
The profile of PMS raised nationwide
The new NAPS Guidelines on PMS were sent to every GP practice and walk-centre in the UK in early March. Preparing these took months of hard work in drafting, design, checking and reworking by Nick Panay (author), Moira Feehily (IT), Jackie Howe(editor) and the trustees, all on a voluntary basis. A labour of love but hugely time consuming and at times, especially at the printing stage, nerve-racking.
The comments that we are receiving daily have made all our efforts so worthwhile and practices are wanting all their clinical staff to have access to the information - just what is needed if all PMS sufferers are to receive appropriate treatment.
To ensure adequate impact of the mailing we had to prepare a press release and also set up a new , efficient system of mass mailing that was also affordable. Thanks to Moira's research and working all over a weekend on transferring data and testing the system, we had achieved this in time to go live at the beginning of the week of 15th March. We had an instant request for a case study and then put out the appeal on to the Home page for women to come forward to share their experiences in the media so as to help other sufferers. Thanks go to all those who have contacted NAPS and all existing media contacts who confirmed their willingness to be interviewed - your support is vital if we are to continue to respond to media interest. Dr Mark Porter wrote an excellent article in The Times health section on 23rd March and on the back of this we have been contacted by a freelance journalist regarding a possible article on research. Jackie Howe (Acting CEO) was interviewed by BBC Radio Manchester in the same week on how important it is for GPs to be properly informed on PMS and its management.
In addition to all this activity, the NAPS Study Day in Derby on Women's Health for Health professionals is being heavily promoted. Dr Carrie Sadler, NAPS trustee is responsible for much of the organisation of the conference and local publicity while NAPS administration is taking care of nationwide publicity, reservations, finance and the paperwork for delegates.
An exciting new venture with Pri-Med Educational Programmes means that we are currently preparing a flyer for doctors who are attending conferences in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London in April and May. It is anticipated that 1800 doctors will receive information on what NAPS offers both doctors and their patients.
On 8th April Jackie Howe will be representing NAPS at a meeting at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of charities which deal with Gynaecology. The object of the meeting is to share information on research projects and campaigns, to inform each other of work being carried out and to look at areas where there could be joint co-operation.
A busy and exciting time for NAPS. Please show your support for the Association's work in which ever way you can by donation, making a monthly payment to NAPS, fundraising, becoming a member, writing for the bulletin, volunteering your skills - all these are key to NAPS maintaining the profile necessary for promoting the needs of PMS sufferers.
