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Organisations Unite For Vasculitis Awareness Month
9 May 2013
Organisations Unite For Vasculitis Awareness Month
May is Vasculitis Awareness Month and Waikato DHB is working together with Arthritis New Zealand to help Waikato residents understand the rare autoimmune condition.
The two organisations are hosting an information seminar on ‘Living with Vasculitis’ at Hamilton’s Celebrating Age Centre on 15 May to outline the different types of vasculitis, fatigue management and advocacy services available.
Vasculitis displays will also be set up in Waikato Hospital and the Hamilton City Library during the week beginning 13 May.
Vasculitis causes inflammation of the blood vessels and can affect any organ in the body. It can affect persons of both sexes and all ages.
Consultant physician and specialist rheumatologist Dr Vicki Quincey said the coordination between the two organisations is important because up to 50 per cent of patients with vasculitis will develop arthritis as part of their disease.
“As vasculitis patient numbers expanded we started running support meetings for the patients at the hospital and Arthritis New Zealand kindly agreed to step in and help with this,” Dr Quincey said.
“By working together we are able to raise community awareness, ensure that those affected by vasculitis are able to access up to date information and create further opportunities for people to meet others,” Arthritis New Zealand’s arthritis educator Catherine Swift said.
Dr Quincey said Waikato DHB also wants to use vasculitis awareness month to remind people about the specialist vasculitis clinic run by the DHB’s regional rheumatology service.
“There are many different forms of vasculitis and its presentation can vary significantly from person to person so a diagnosis may not always be immediately clear. Often people will have seen many specialists before coming to the clinic - so to receive a diagnosis provides significant relief," she said.
“The patients that we see in the clinic typically have very complex health needs and by taking a big picture approach, asking the right questions, and working closely with other specialities we can enhance patient outcomes.”
The vasculitis clinic is held at Waikato Hospital’s Rheumatology Department. Dr Quincey set up the clinic in 2010 when she came to work at Waikato Hospital.
The service is steadily growing and the department is actively involved in worldwide vasculitis research. It has multidisciplinary involvement from doctors, nurses and occupational therapists.
It is free to attend the vasculitis clinic; however, a referral is needed from either a GP or another specialist. In-patients are also fed into the clinic. Anyone with concerns about vasculitis should consult their GP.
For more information on the ‘Living with Vasculitis’ seminar or vasculitis displays, contact Arthritis New Zealand’s arthritis educator Catherine Swift on 07 829 4538 or email catherine.swift@arthritis.org.nz
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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