City Hospital this morning

[TikkiRo]

Okay - is it just me or did anyone do a sort of double take this morning when they interviewed a poor lass who has lupus and apparently had a 'spinal bleed' which has left her now totally paralysed for the past 5 months or so??? First time I've EVER heard of this being any sort of possibility for this condition and if it is I'd sure like to be made more aware of it. I was unhappy with the way it was done in that for someone like myself who's just tuning into the programme on and off so not seen this lady before (if she's even been on before that is) but I kept waiting for the interviewer to clarify the situation a bit more given the seriousness of the outcome i.e. was it caused specifically by the lupus, did she have any other major predisposing factors or otherwise how it had happened to her sort of thing. I've had my lupus for 8 years and am very knowledgeable and not easily freaked out by prospects of what it can do, but have to say this one did get me more than a shade concerned, as I've never contemplated such a possibility if mine flared badly enough to warrant it. I'm already writing to the programme directors to put that point, as although I appreciate it's not really their responsibility in some respects, I think it would be nice for conditions such as this, which is one that many really are quite unaware of, that they don't leave viewers with an even worse concept of how it can affect people - after all, the vast majority of sufferers possibly DON'T have the more serious problems. Or am I just very fortunate to be like that and have a 'milder' version perhaps (although it's starting to show itself more each year!).

Romayne

[Sannie]

I saw the programme and will also be complaining about it.

I certainly feel they should have had one of the doctors from the lupus unit on the programme to explain what both lupus and Hughes Syndrome is - and what has happened to the patient in question.

Last week they featured a lady with Hughes Syndrome who has had nineteen pregnancies - seventeen of which have resulted in miscarriage - and again there was no explanation about the condition from a doctor.

I believe the lupus unit had no idea the BBC were going to feature this lady today - and it seems they had no idea about last weeks programme either.

The sad thing is that both lupus and Hughes Syndrome get little publicity and this would have been the ideal opportunity to raise awareness if only they had done it correctly.

[Sannie]

Hi there

The posts to this have been removed and the topic closed as there really is'nt anything more to say other than complaints have been made.

The programme is not on television next week but it does return the week after.

Love
Sannie