St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey does Coeliac UK proud

Staff at Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust held a well attended event on Wednesday 17 May in aid of Coeliac and DH Awareness Week.  

A medium sized district general hospital service operating from two sites - Ashford near Staines and St. Peter's near Chertsey, the Trust employs just over 3,000 staff (excluding contractors such as cleaning and catering) making it one of the largest employers in the local area. 

Joined by out-going Mayor of Woking, Cllr Ian Johnson, the dietetic team held an information stand held at the front entrance to the hospital. Being a sufferer of Coeliac Disease himself, Cllr Johnson was delighted to be able to help promote the issue as his final official engagement:

"I thought it very fitting that on my last full day as Mayor I should help St Peter's raise awareness of the condition to a wider public as part of the Charity Coeliac UK's Awareness Week. So that life as a coeliac may become easier for everyone who has been diagnosed; but also to help those people who are having health problems that may be the symptoms of coeliac disease and they just don't know yet."

It seems everyone at the Hospital has a link to the condition, with one member of staff with a coeliac son holding a 'biscuit and brownie' tasting - gluten-free of course.  Even Communications Officer at the Hospital, Martin Stevens, has a connection: 

"Some people think that coeliac disease is a condition solely limited to the older population but my wife was diagnosed when she was 21, while the Mayor was only in his 40's. Coeliac disease is an incurable, genetically inherited disease, and for my wife it as meant a whole change of life style."

Armed with information and statistics from Coeliac UK showing that 1 in 100 people could have coeliac disease but 4 out of 5 don't know it, the team held a fantastic event and the Charity is very proud of and grateful to them.  

There's no need to wait until next year's Awareness Week to hold an event or coeliac clinic.  Please contact us for information.