Campaigns
GP Survey Results
A recent survey carried out on behalf of the British Polio Fellowship revealed that 55% of GPs are unable to diagnose the debilitating effects of post-polio syndrome (PPS) which affects up to an estimated 100,000 people in the UK.
An estimated 120,000 people in the UK today were affected by polio – now largely eradicated in the UK. Up to 80% of these will develop PPS – a disease which can be as debilitating as polio itself. PPS can arise 20 – 40 years after the initial disease; symptoms include: muscle wastage, muscle and joint pain, and mental and physical fatigue, as well as impaired circulation and breathing.
However, proper diagnosis and treatment can stabilise and reduce the progress of PPS and dramatically improve the lives of sufferers. Without treatment symptoms will deteriorate.
The survey’s findings are supported by a further British Polio survey carried out amongst the organisation’s 10,000 members. This revealed that it takes a shocking average of six years to get a diagnosis for PPS.
PPS is a very serious condition but fast diagnosis can alleviate symptoms and delay deterioration. Many medical personnel could be unknowingly working with someone with undiagnosed PPS – from physiotherapists, to nurses and GPs. We urgently need to raise the profile of this disease and ensure that everyone with PPS is getting the treatment they need.
The GP Net survey also showed that only 18% of GPs know how to treat PPS once diagnosed.
For more information on Post Polio Syndrome click here
Post Polio Syndrome awareness raising campaign
Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) is a neurological condition that can occur in people who have had polio. After an interval of several years of stability, you may then develop increasing weakness, stamina problems, fatigue and pain. With the correct treatment further deterioration may be delayed, however, there is no cure.
Unfortunately, as our recent survey has confirmed, the majority of GPs do not know how to diagnose Post Polio Syndrome and as a result many of our members are not receiving the correct treatment.
The aim of this campaign is to significantly raise awareness of PPS amongst both the public and health professionals in order to help those with polio and PPS receive the best healthcare possible and to learn how to manage their symptoms.
For more information on Post Polio Syndrome click here
Where are you now?
There are tens of thousands of people who survived the polio epidemics of the first half of the twentieth century living in the UK today. In fact there are currently estimated to be 120,000 people living in the UK who have had polio.
Are you one of them? If so we would love to hear from you! You can call us free on 0800 018 0586 or email
info@britishpolio.org.uk
Baywatch
Many disabled people rely on a car to get around. Although there is some accessible public transport it is still very limited in many areas. To make full use of their car disabled people rely on being able to park close to their destination.
The blue badge scheme and the provision of designated parking for disabled people is supposed to make it easier but all too often disabled people find they can not park because other non-badge holders have parked in the disabled spaces. The Baywatch Campaign has been set up with the objective of ending this abuse.
Baywatch seeks to end parking abuse in a number of ways:
1. We want to change public attitudes though high profile events such as our parking surveys.
2. We want to work with service providers to improve the provision, design and management of accessible parking.
So far, the Baywatch campaign has:
- Worked with a number of service providers, providing advice and support on best practice when it comes to parking for disabled people
- Received money from the Department of Transport to research the best ways to enforce allocated parking for disabled people
- Run surveys by disabled people on the extent of parking bay abuse in supermarket car parks
- Set up a competition and award scheme to highlight the best - and worst - when it comes to parking for disabled people.
As far as Baywatch is concerned, there`s no excuse for parking abuse.