Medical Experts welcomed to Guernsey thanks to Saffery Rotary Walk

Three internationally renowned oncology professionals were welcomed to Guernsey in March for a “Medical Info Day” thanks to funds raised by the Saffery Rotary Walk.

The event – organised by the Guernsey Myeloma Support Group – had been long-awaited after being postponed for three years due to the covid pandemic. Guest speakers Professor Darina Kohoutova, Professor Jan Bures, MD, PhD, FCMA and Professor Rosalind Eeles offered their insight about microbiota and genetics in oncology.

The Medical Info Day, which was well attended, was a rare opportunity for patients and healthcare professionals to hear from leading clinical experts at an on-island event.  Guernsey Myeloma Support Group co-founder, Jean Roberts, said “a significant amount of effort” went into planning the informative event.

“Sarah Felmingham and I founded the support group in 2015 with two principal aims: to offer support to individuals and families affected by Multiple Myeloma through shared experiences and kindness, and to provide education to healthcare professionals.

“We decided to help educate healthcare professionals for the benefit of current patients and to give a better outcome for future patients. Multiple Myeloma is one of the rarer cancers and symptoms can be multifaceted making it difficult to diagnose.”

The event was the third Medical Info Day arranged by the group, all of which have been accredited.

“The most recent event received four Continual Professional Development (CPD) awards. For doctors and nurses who may find it difficult to leave the island for study days, the CPD points awarded for attending such conferences are highly valuable,” said Ms Roberts.

“We are planning another Medical Info Day for 2024 and, to ensure that we continue to provide valuable information to attendees, my Co-lead Jenny Benjamin and I will be attending a conference in London this year focused on gastrointestinal consequences of cancer treatments, a topic that is relevant to all cancer patients.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the funding from the Saffery Rotary Walk, which enables us to expand knowledge and enhance the scope of care and understanding for cancer patients on our island.”

Saffery Trust Director, Lisa Vizia, sits on the Organising Committee for the annual round-island walk, which is one of the biggest fundraising events in Guernsey.

“The success of the Medical Info Day is a credit to the fantastic work of the Guernsey Myeloma Support Group, who work tirelessly to help support cancer patients. It is so important for local healthcare professionals and patients to have access to information, and we are proud to have been able to support such a worthy cause.

“The Saffery Rotary Walk continues to bring together islanders from all walks of life who are motivated to support charitable causes in their local community. The 2023 walk will support 25 charities and we look forward to seeing the positive impact made through the funds raised.”

You can find out more about the Saffery Rotary Walk and how to register for this year’s event here.