Glad to report that the group is going from strength to strength and we have an average attendance of 25-30. We have plans to expand once we move into the new hospital in February - but more on that later! We now have a very strong committee of 8 members who are all very keen and active.

One of our fabulous young Asian members has offered to help us in our task to involve more faith and ethnic communities and has given us names, address and contact numbers of those who will translate posters, business cards and maybe symptoms of RA for distribution to their members. We are really thrilled about this.

Our programme for the first half of 2012 is as follows:

January 5th: Lois Craddock, Advanced Rheumatology Practitioner. Lois will tell us something about the new drugs presently being tested and trialled.

February 2nd: Citizens Advice Bureau. A lawyer with a disability background will speak about disability rights.

March 1st: Mr Bill G Ryan, Consultant Orthpaedic Surgeon, Royal Bolton Hospital. Joint replacements

April 5th: Fire Service - to be confirmed

May 3rd: Edna Liptrot, Osteoporosis Society.

June 7th: Age Concern - to be confirmed

We meet on the first Thursday of every month between 2.00pm and 4.0pm and until further notice will continue to meet in Room S30, Rheumatology Department, Second Floor, Lever Chambers, 27 Ashburner Street, Bolton BL1 1SQ

EVERYONE IS WELCOME - We are a very friendly group and it would be great to see you!