Dr Hilary to host rare disease Q&A (From This is Hampshire)

Dr Hilary to host rare disease Q&A

9:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Gazette By Helen Morton

CELEBRITY doctor Hilary Jones is to host an online consultation for sufferers of a rare incurable disease.

Dr Hilary, who trained at Basingstoke hospital, and has practised at BMI The Hampshire Clinic, in Old Basing, is giving sufferers of vasculitis the chance to gain expert advice and have their questions answered.

Dr Hilary, who regularly appears on ITV’s Daybreak and This Morning programmes, will hold the consultation on Wednesday, February 15 at 5pm.

The disease, which inflames and destroys blood vessels, affects one in 30,000 people in the UK.

The conference, which has been organised by the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation, will be free to take part in and family and friends of those affected by the disease are also welcome to partcipate.

This will be the third in a series of online consultations organised by the charity and it is also open to local GPs who wish learn more about early diagnosis of the disease.

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation was set up in memory of Lauren Currie, from Kilmarnock, by her parents Grant and Adrienne whose aim is to raise awareness and funds for medical research into this incurable disease as well as providing support for those living with the condition.

Lauren sadly died from vasculitis when she was 15, less than 48 hours after she was diagnosed.

Grant Currie, said: “This is a great opportunity for those affected by vasculitis to be able to ask questions to our guest speaker, Dr Hilary Jones.

“If just one person benefits from this online conference, it will be worthwhile as it could make a huge difference to these patients’ lives.

“Sadly, Lauren was diagnosed too late to benefit from such an event – she lost her fight for life less than 48 hours after her diagnosis – but we hope that for sufferers living with this condition, we can provide a place for advice, support and guidance.

“Vasculitis is still a relatively unknown disease and research into it is still at a very early stage. Being such a rare disease, researchers are dependent on the likes of Lauren’s foundation to partly fund research in the UK.”

For free registration for the online conference, visit thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation.org.