A patient who suffers from a debilitating disease has joined forces with Bradford Teaching Hospitals to set up a website to connect with other sufferers.

 

Matthew Hodgson, 22, from Wibsey, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD as it is more commonly known) three years ago and has received care and treatment at the Bradford Royal Infirmary.

 

Now, with the help of healthcare professionals he has helped design and set-up the Foundation Trust’s new website www.IBDBradford.org.uk to help patients when they are diagnosed with the condition and to encourage others with Crohn’s and colitis diseases to share information and experiences.

 

”When I was first diagnosed, information was spread across various websites but none had all the information in one place,” said Matthew. “It was during one of my first appointments with a consultant, Dr Southern, that we got talking and when he discovered what I did for a living, he asked if I would like to collaborate with the hospital in putting together this website.

 

“The IBD Bradford website is great because it brings everything that you need to know about the condition together in one place and for first-time diagnosis patients across the district this is really invaluable.

 

”I'm really glad to have been involved as I have been able to give something back to the service which helped me so much.”

 

IBD is a painful condition which can affect anywhere from the mouth to the bottom and can lead to a narrowing in the gut.

 

Typical signs include diahorrea and bleeding, weight loss, abdominal pain and sometimes malnutrition.

 

IBD nurse specialist, Deborah Patterson, said: “The new website has been designed for Bradford patients to help them find information on the condition and help them seek advice from other patients who have had similar experiences.

 

“Our aim is to provide a valuable resource for patients and their families to access up-to-date information and support when they first receive a diagnosis and thereafter, with the emphasis being very much on what is available in Bradford.  

 

“The website also includes useful information on the service at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, directions and the location of the gastro unit, times of the clinics and car parking facilities for patients and their families”.

 

There are nearly 2000 people in the Bradford area with IBD.

 

The website was put together by patients and the multi-disciplinary specialist IBD team which included the IBD Nurse Specialists, new IBD Consultant leads, Dr Catherine Kenneth and Dr Cathryn Preston, and Consultant Hepatologist, Dr Paul Southern. Initial funding came via a charitable donation from the Upper Bolton Conservative Club. Then last year, the hospital’s dedicated IBD team (which included Matthew and fellow patients Salma Ahmed, Emma Person, Gary Clarke) were crowned Team of the Year and awarded £5,000 prize money. The money will now be spent on the upkeep of the website.

 

The website’s launch takes place tonight (Wednesday 28 September) in the BRI’s Sovereign Lecture Theatre at 6pm. Patients, their families and carers, are welcome to attend. Doctors and IBD nurse specialists will hold an open question time and a buffet will be provided by Bradford’s award-winning Prashad restaurant.