Lincolnshire Echo 5th May 2000 - Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network Media Event

Media Events

Lincolnshire Echo, 5th May 2000

Sufferer invited to USA

Victim to speak at seminar

A LINCOLN woman who has been experiencing the late effects of polio for more than 12 years has been invited to speak at a medical conference about the condition in the United States.

Hilary Hallam (53), who has post-polio syndrome, will be one of three British speakers at the Post Polio and Independent Living Conference in Missouri.

Like thousands of people across the country, she contracted polio during the 1940's before vaccines virtually eliminated it in the late 1950s.

Founder and secretary of the Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network - an information service - Mrs. Hallam will be addressing medical professionals and polio survivors about self-assessment of the condition.

"Due to the invention of the vaccine it has been thought polio was a disease of the past," said Mrs. Hallam, who lives in Doddington Park.

"When polio survivors find themselves confronted by this unexpected stage of their childhood polio they experience initial horror.

"They find there is an even bigger battle to be fought - finding specialised clinical support."

She said by keeping an adequate diary of symptoms and functional changes, among other things, it would help doctors recognise the condition and treat it accordingly.

Peter Jay (54), who lives in Sutton Bridge and is a voluntary welfare visitor for the British Polio Fellowship, will be speaking at the conference for the second time.

He will be discussing the importance of self-management for people with long-term conditions.

"This is the most important conference for discussing issues regarding people who have survived polio and I am honoured to attend," he said.

"The conference is a good opportunity to discuss these issues and hopefully get polio treatment clinics in Britain."

The conference takes place from Thursday, June 8, to Saturday, June 10.

Lincolnshire Health Authority have donated £100 towards the trip, but Mrs. Hallam is still in need of further funding.

She especially requires a second-hand lap-top computer which makes it easier for her to transport information about the charity.

If you can help or for more information telephone Hilary Hallam at the Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network on (01522) 888601.

The full text of this article can also be found on the Lincolnshire Echo web site at http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/scripts/edarchdisplay.asp?section=Local+news&ID=4653&source=LINC.
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LincsPPN Editorial Note: In conversations with the Lincolnshire Echo before the above article was published, they were specifically asked by us not to use certain terms including "victim". In our experience of previous newspaper articles, use of such terms can 'switch people off' with the result that those in desperate need of more information may fail to make further contact.

LincsPPN World-Wide Conference and Seminar Diary - Eighth International Post-Polio & Independent Living Conference - Conference Card #0006.
LincsPPN Directory - International/National/Local Support Organizations - The British Polio Fellowship.
The Lincolnshire Echo - this is Lincolnshire
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/ External Link.

The Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network
Registered Charity No. 1064177
An Information Service for Polio Survivors and Medical Professionals

All enquiries, book requests, medical article requests, membership fees, items for newsletters and donations to
The Secretary, Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network
PO Box 954, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 5ER United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)1522 888601
Facsimile: +44 (0)870 1600840
Email: info@lincolnshirepostpolio.org.uk

Document preparation: Chris Salter, Original Think-tank, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Alternate Document Reference: <URL:http://www.zynet.co.uk/ott/polio/lincolnshire/media/n20000505.html>
Last modification: 13th April 2009.
Last information content change: 13th April 2009.