SUPPORT GROUPS
The value of meeting other people who share a common interest with you is demonstrated in all aspects of life, even more so when it relates to a health matter. It’s reassuring to meet others who’ve gone through the same experiences as you, to share and learn from each other.
www.bariatriccookery.com believes that patient support groups are an essential part of any obesity surgery programme and works closely with charities and other groups to establish and run a national network of patient support groups at hospitals, clubs, independent venues and even patient’s homes. These are run in addition to dietician and bariatric team care and not intended to replace them.
Research has shown that in centres where there is a good support service, including an active support group, obesity surgery outcomes are better. Attending a patient support group is a major contributor to achieving an individual’s long term healthy weight-loss and health improvement goals, helping to ensure that your investment in surgery is worth it.
With that in mind we have encouraged groups to form and grow; attend many on a regular basis and Carol frequently talks to many; and we have a list here that may guide you to one in your area.
This is a category that will be updated regularly but we do rely upon group leaders to let us know about new dates. All support groups are listed alphabetically. For specific dates make contact with the group leader before setting out since meetings are SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT SHORT NOTICE!.
BARIATRIC CARE AND SUPPORT see STOKE ON TRENT, STAFFORDSHIRE BELOW.
BATH SUPPORT GROUP
Community Rooms, Wessex Water HQ, Claverton Down Rd, Bath, BA2 7WW
Wednesday or Thursday 7.30-9.30 pm
CONTACT: bathsupport@wlsinfo.org.uk
CHRISTCHURCH SUPPORT GROUP
Christchurch Community Centre, Southy Road, Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset
6.30 pm First Wednesday of every month
CONTACT: Wendy Savage Wendy71uk@msn.com or 07791 429 318
CORNWALL PATIENTS SUPPORTS GROUPS
1. Ash Torr Hall, Saltash, Cornwall
2nd Sunday every month. 1.30-4 pm
2. Shortlandsend Village Hall, Cornwall
4th Sunday every month. 1.30-4 pm
3. Source Cafe, Marcus Hill, Newquay, Cornwall
Every Thursday 11 am-2 pm
4. Lanna Band Centre, Lanna, TR16 5SZ
3rd Wednesday every month. 6-8pm
5. Sainsbury’s Cafe, Penzance, TR13 3AP
Last Friday every month 10 am
6. Carclaze Inn, South View, Enterprise Park, Treverbyn Rd, PL25 4EJ
Every Monday 11.45 am
All groups are run by Zaneta Jean Jones and subject to change so please check details by telephone or email before attending in person
CONTACT: BSPcornwall@gmail.com or 07790 239997 or 01637 889150
DEVON:
WLS FRIENDS IN NORTH DEVON
Asda Community Room, Asda, Atlantic Village, Bideford, Devon (please ring for details of how to find as they are not in the main store)
Every 3rd Tuesday of the month 7-9pm
PLUS they hold a coffee morning once a month – usually the 1st Monday of the month, 10.30 am at St John’s Garden Centre Restaurant, St John’s Road, Newport, Barnstaple, Devon (do check first since the date sometimes changes to fit in with school holidays etc)
CONTACT: Margaret on 01237 424223 or e-mail margo.bull@tiscali.co.uk
or Christine on 01237 474901 or email skinnybrit2b@talktalk.net
BARIATRIC PATIENT SUPPORT (BPS) SOUTH DEVON
Rydon Community Hall, Rydon Road, Kingsteignton, Nr Newton Abbot, South Devon, TQ12 3RD
1st Sunday of every month at 2pm
CONTACT: Debbie Styles Group Leader 07933950820
Elaine Jenkins Group Secretary 097766674295
BARIATRIC PATIENT SUPPORT (BPS) SOUTH DEVON
Mount Stuart Hospital, St Vincent’s Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4UP
1st Tuesday of every month at 7pm (starting 7th July 2015)
CONTACT: Debbie Styles Group Leader 07933950820
Elaine Jenkins Group Secretary 097766674295
DONCASTER SUPPORT GROUP
Jasmine Suite Seminar Room, South Block, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Armthorpe Road, Doncaster DN2 5LT
For pre and post surgery patients Ist Thursday of every month 7-8pm
CONTACT: Debbie Cressey debcressey@hotmail.com
EASTBOURNE SUPPORT GROUP
Eastbourne Weight Loss Support Group
EAST SUSSEX SUPPORT GROUP
The Greenman Pub Inn, Ringmer, East Sussex
7.30 pm First Wednesday of every month
CONTACT: Carol Blackman 07754 662995
ELSTREE AND BOREHAMWOOD SUPPORT GROUP
*****new venue****
Clementine Churchill Hospital (conference room), Sudbury Hill, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3RX
7.30 pm Second Thursday of every month
CONTACT: Stacey Brova 0800 1577 033 0r 07795 551466
HAMPSHIRE CLINIC SUPPORT GROUP
Hampshire Clinic, Basingstoke (Dining Room)
8pm on the following dates for 2012:
22nd Jan, 5th March, 16th April, 28th May, 16th July and 27th August 2013
CONTACT: GEORGETTE (Dusty) BROUGH 07790 526719 OR georgette.brough@sky.com
LEEDS SUPPORT GROUP
Bramley Suite, Weetwood Hall Hotel, Otley Rd, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS16 5PS (0113 230 6000 for hotel)
2nd Monday of each month 7-9pm
Dates for 2018: 8th October, 12th November, 10th December
Group Coordinators Bianca & Maxine on leedssupport@wlsinfo.org.uk
LINCOLNSHIRE SUPPORT GROUP
BOSS – Bariatric Obesity Surgery Support
Meeting once a month @ Thoresby Suite, Louth County Hospital, Louth, Lincolnshire
Contact: Claire Greig on 07984 824 254 or crg02@tiscali.co.uk or facebook page BOSS-Bariatric Obesity Surgery Society
LONDON: SEE POST OPERATIVE BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP
SEE WEST LONDON BOSPA
LONDON – CENTRAL LONDON
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MANCHESTER WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPORT, GASTRIC & PLASTICS MEET-UP
11.45am-1.30pm on the last Monday of every month
Costa Coffee, The Great Hall, The Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 8AA
Contact: Sara Bouamra 07742 911117 afreshme@rocketmail.com
MANCHESTER GASTRIC & PLASTICS FRIENDS (SSN) & WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
7-8.30pm 3rd Thursday of every month
Leisure Club Sports & Spikes Bar, The Worsley Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Worsley Park, Manchester M28 2QT
Contact: Sara Bouamra 07742 911117 afreshme@rocketmail.com
MID KENT SUPPORT GROUP
7.30-10.30 First Thursday of the month
‘Brookers Oast’ Brewers Fayre, The Hop Farm, Beltring, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, TN12 6PY 01622 872818
CONTACT: Mike or Louise on www.midkentsupport@wlsinfo.org.uk
MILTON KEYNES WLS SUPPORT GROUP
11am-1pm FIRST MEETING 9th June 2012
Dobbies Garden Centre, Belvedere Lane, Watling St, Milton Keynes, MK17 9JH
CONTACT: Lorraine Rainbow Andrews 07961 504476
NOTTINGHAM SUPPORT GROUP
*NEW* 2nd Tuesday of every month
Hyson Green Community Centre, 37a Gregory Boulevard, Hyson Green, Nottingham, NG7 6BE
CONTACT: Idaya Rose 07546 215757 bsgnottingham@gmail.com or 0115 911 1661 or email info@selfhelp.org.uk
POST OPERATIVE BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUP
***new***
Whitecross Community Centre, Chequer St, London EC1Y 8LU
6.30-8.30 pm Second Wednesday of every month (First one 14th November 2012)
CONTACT: Alana or Mariannne pobsg@hotmail.com
NOTE: POST OPS ONLY
SOUTH COAST SUPPORT GROUP (RUN BY STREAMLINE SURGICAL)
***new***
The Holiday Inn, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, PO13FD
19.30 pm Third Thursday of every month starting 19th September 2013
RUN BY: Sue Smith, Streamline Surgical’s Communications Assistant. All are invited (you do NOT have to have had your surgery through Streamline) and can include partners/supporters. More information through www.streamline-surgical.com (on their forum page).
SOUTHAMPTON SUPPORT GROUP
Postern Court, Upper Bugle Street, Southampton, SO14 2AF
10.30 am- 1 pm
CONTACT: Andrea (Cordelia) southamptonsupport@wlsinfo.org.uk
NOTE: Parking is very limited being residential, but it is close to bus stops and both surface and multi-storey car parking around West Quay shopping mall.
SOUTH DURHAM SUPPORT GROUP
PCP Centre, Cobblers Hall, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham
1st Wednesday of every month 6-9pm
CONTACT: scott.fiskel@sky.com
STOKE ON TRENT SUPPORT GROUP
Called Bariatric Care and Support. Check out all details on www.bariatriccareandsupport.co.uk or get in touch via their email address bariatriccare@yahoo.co.uk
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FRIENDS/WOLVERHAMPTON
Meeting monthly (different dates) at the Linthouse Pub (private function room), Linthouse Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV11 3TN.
CONTACT: Angela Matthews on 07554418324 or via email wls.friends@yahoo.co.uk
WEST LONDON BOSPA SUPPORT GROUP
Now held at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
British Obesity Surgery Patient Association Support Group
Meeting dates for 2019
January 16th, February 13th, March 13th,
April 17th, May 15th, June 12th,
July 10th, September 11th, October 9th,
November 13th, December (to be discussed)
Our meetings take place in : The Glazer Room which is situated on the 3rd floor of the main building QEQM
The evening runs from 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Generally on the second Wednesday of the month
The meetings cost £5 for members
CONTACT: Georgina Hayman (Group Leader) georginahayman@thepsychotherapygroup.co.uk or mobile: 07742 987715
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE SUPPORT GROUP
Wokingham Community Hospital, Barkham Rod, Wokingham, RG41 2RG
3-5.30 pm Meet once per month. Next meeting 5th March 2011
CONTACT: Lou Bradley on 07834 706519
WORTHING SUPPORT GROUP
The Shelley Room, Goring Hall Hospital, Bodiam Avenue, Goring By Sea, Worthing, BN12 5AT
7.30-9.00 pm
CONTACT: Karin Holmes karinbospa@yahoo.co.uk
NOTE: There is a small door charge to attend BOSPA meetings to cover the cost of venue hire etc. This charge is £3 for non-members and their supporters and just £1 for members and their supporters.
SCOTLAND
BERWICK UPON TWEED SUPPORT GROUP
This is a new group having their first meeting on Thursday 10th May 2012 (then the second Thursday of every month after that).
OWNER’S LOUNGE BERWICK HOLIDAY PARK 7.30-9pm
CONTACT wlsberwick@yahoo.co.uk for more details and directions
FORTH VALLEY SUPPORT GROUP
GRANGE MANOR (just off junction 6 of M9)
see www. grangemanor.co.uk
6-8 pm First Tuesday of every month
CONTACT:JAN BURNS j.burns@nhs.net or 07875 157757
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Glenys Beaumont says
Hello Carol, I don’t see any support groups listed for Wales. Do you know if there will be any in the near future please.
CAROL says
Hi Glenys, I haven’t heard of any to date and no-one has notified me about any new ones starting. I will ask on Facebook to see if there is one I have missed and find out details if there is. Have you ever thought of starting up your own? Carol X
vanessa graham says
Hi Carol,
I haven’t seen a support group for Sheffield, South Yorkshire, do you know if there is one? I don’t drive and travelling expenses are not something I can afford. You mentioned to the lady above about starting your own. How would you go about doing that? I’m not professional at anything, it sounds a very daunting thing to do but I’m wanting support information and any way I can get this will help me and no doubt others like me.
Thanks Carol
CAROL says
Hi Vanessa, there is a support group in Sheffield that is associated with the Northern General Hospital but I think it is for their patients only. Likewise there is one in Doncaster the same. I know Leeds have a group which is run by some wonderful ladies from WLSinfo.org but this may well be too far away for you. They are always looking for someone to open new groups in areas that they don’t already have cover in so Sheffield would qualify. They can help since they have a great website, forum and lively membership with conferences and get-togethers – check them out and if you like what you see then speak to one of the team and see what they have to say. C x
Nikki says
Hi Carol, do u know if the support group at the Hampshire clinic is still running at all please? I am desprate to join one & the one in Portsmouth & Southampton is just too far for me to get to so I’m praying that the Hampshire clinic one is still running. I will be 2 years out next month & haven’t had any support group or anything so am really in desprate need of one. X
CAROL says
Hi Nikki, I’m not sure … Dusty Brough (see her email on the support group post) may well have retired now and no longer hold the group – I haven’t had anything through from them for a long time. You could always ring the clinic and they may well know on reception. Otherwise I am at a loss as to where else to suggest. I was told there was a group in Woking (through WLS info org) if that’s a shorter distance to drive and someone also mentioned Wokingham too. C x