A new support group will bring together patients and clinicians to help tackle obesity and improve the health of patients living across the region.
The Greater Manchester Obesity Awareness Support Group has been initiated by Mr Siba Senapati, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon at Salford Royal, Mr Akheel Syed, Consultant Bariatric Physician at Salford Royal, and Mr Jack Carney, former principal of The Manchester College and voluntary athletic coach. They aim to share best practice across the region, provide an information point for colleagues from different sectors and to encourage co-ordinated treatment pathways for patients.
Mr Senapati said: “Figures show that the health of people in Greater Manchester is worse than the England average, with more than 90,000 adults and 14,000 children being overweight or obese. There is also evidence that those living in deprived areas and in certain groups suffer disproportionate health inequalities.
“By creating this group we aim to provide a consistent approach across the region to ensure patients and clinicians have the support and clinical expertise needed to tackle what has fast become an epidemic across the country. It is vitally important that a network is created across our region so we can deal with this problem head-on and share our expertise, knowledge and information to ultimately improve population health and patient care.”
The group will provide effective signposting to obesity information and support. Patient support groups will be developed with the help of local champions who can share their own life story and experiences.
The inaugural meeting of the support group will take place at a Salford Royal study day on Saturday 14 November at 4pm in the Frank Rifkin Lecture Theatre, Mayo Building. Leaders of voluntary organisations across Greater Manchester are invited to go along and support this venture.
For more details on the Greater Manchester Obesity Awareness Support Group, please contact Siba Senapati at sibasenapati@gmail.com or Jack Carney at jcarney171@gmail.com.
The study day is aimed at medical and allied health professionals who have a significant role to play in early obesity intervention and prevention and will include lectures on the various impacts of obesity on health. To register your attendance at the study day, click here. Alternatively contact 0161 456 7828, or email info@bidaonline.co.uk.
Photo: Mr Siba Senapati, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon at Salford Royal and Mr Jack Carney, former principal of The Manchester College and voluntary athletic coach
