Nottingham Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group Meetings
Why Join a Support Group?
If you asked 10 people in the street if they’d heard of pulmonary fibrosis you’d be lucky if one said “yes”.
There is a lack of awareness among the general public and – unfortunately – a lack of knowledge among the non-specialist medical profession.
That can be difficult for patients and families.
You can feel isolated and abandoned. It can sometimes feel that no-one understands – not even family and friends.
At our support group, you will meet people who know what you are going through.
They understand and they can empathise. But please don’t think the meetings are places of doom & gloom and that all we do is talk about the illness - we spend more time laughing and chatting than anything else!
Our support group usually meets on the last Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm - 2.30pm, although you are welcome to arrive at midday and bring some lunch with you if you’d like to; the ‘proper’ meeting will start at 12.30pm. We meet at the Sir Julian Khan Pavilion, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, NG2 7JE. We are looking forward to seeing you there! If it’s your first visit, please contact us to let us know you are coming.
Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake are provided at our support group meetings. We also hold a raffle so prize donations are always welcome. The pavilion is a spacious rom with lots of free parking, overlooking a lovely cricket pitch.
Next meetings:
Tuesday 26th March, 30th April, 28th May, 25th June, 30th July, August summer outing tbc.
“Of course, we are realistic about Pulmonary Fibrosis, but we are all determined to help each other to live as well as we possibly can. ”
Our group is here to provide support, expert knowledge and a safe place to share experiences and ask questions.
What Happens at Meetings?
Connect with others.
The meetings will give you the chance to chat informally with other members. You’ll share experiences and pick up tips on anything and everything from exercise and diet to how to cope with drug side-effects.
Expert Advice
At the group, you will have the opportunity to meet with the Nottingham Hospitals respiratory team and to hear from experts on subjects such as drug therapy, research, oxygen and coping with cough and breathlessness. We are also supported by the Rushcliffe community respiratory nurses.
Our Support Group Lead Wendy Dickinson and our Treasurer Malcolm Tait organise the group.
They are supported by the respiratory team at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Malcolm was diagnosed with IPF in 2014 and received a single lung transplant in 2019. He’s doing really well and is back painting and playing his ukulele with gusto!
Wendy helped start the group back in 2015 and is a trustee of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. She lost her dad to IPF in 1990. You can read her story here.