SAUNDERSFOOT resident Jean Bailey-Dering recently attended a reception and awards ceremony at the Palace of Westminster which was hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt. Hon. John Bercoe, in the Speaker's State Apartments. The awards were presented by the Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, who is a patron of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS).

Having represented NRAS in Wales for several years, Jean has spoken on radio and TV, has helped to improve medical training and has written several articles in an effort to raise wider understanding of the disease. When NRAS members across the UK were asked to nominate their choices of outstanding healthcare professionals for the charity's biennial 'Healthcare Champions Awards', Jean was one of the judges.

"Many people wrote moving descriptions of the ways in which their consultants, GPs, specialist nurses and allied health professionals had supported them or 'gone the extra mile' to be helpful. Everybody who had been nominated deserved an award, but we had to come up with a list of only 10 nominees who would attend the ceremony. Some testimonies were extremely moving and it wasn't an easy process." said Jean.

"It's still a pleasure to remember that one of the first recipients of these awards at Westminster was Suzanne Morris, clinical nurse specialist at Withybush Hospital", she added. She also paid tribute to NRAS co-ordinator for Pembrokeshire, Claire Bannister from St. Petrox, saying,: "Claire is a superb organiser who has done so much to arrange a variety of local events and activities on behalf of the Pembrokeshire branch of NRAS. We both live with the pain and exhaustion which can accompany the disease, but Claire never gives in easily and I respect her enormously."

Jean is keen to ensure that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not confused with osteoarthritis (OA) which is a consequence of wear and tear on joints and usually afflicts older people.

"RA is a chronic, progressive and disabling auto-immune disease which can attack people at any age, including young children," she explained. "It chiefly impacts upon joints, but can also affect other organs such as the heart, eyes or lungs. In keeping with other auto-immune diseases, it can cause extreme fatigue, anaemia, unremitting pain and potential destruction of all joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA usually affects people of working age. In the past, a diagnosis of RA often meant that economically active people in the prime of life were forced to stop work and live with permanent exhaustion and increasing disability. However, several wonderful new biological treatments are now prescribed (by consultant rheumatologists via GP referral).

"These are not 'cures', but they can, effectively, halt the progress of the disease and have life-changing effects on people who are living with RA. Early diagnosis is therefore essential."

To find more about the activities of NRAS in Pembrokeshire, please contact the charity's national freephone helpline on 0800 298 7650. Information is also available via: http://www.nras.org.uk">www.nras.org.uk