We will update this page on a regular basis keeping you informed of specific issues. We will be monitoring the progress of the Department of Health consultations and the Scottish Executive pilot, and will provide you with new information as it becomes available.

1st July 2008 - First 500 Club Draw

The first Prize Draw of the 500 Club took place this morning and the first prize winner, who lives in Humberston, North East Lincolnshire, will be receiving a cheque for £367 in the next couple of days. Further details of all of the prize winners will be published shortly. Congratulations to all of our prize winners.

27th June 2008 - Summer Tidings

The Summer edition of Tidings magazine is at the printers at the moment and should reach you all during the week commencing 7th July. This edition celebrates 10 years of the Tidings magazine and has articles covering Rectal Pain, Erectile Dysfunction, Disability Rights and Prolpased Stomas along with all of our usual sections.

24th June 2008 - 500 Club

The first draw for the 500 Club will take place on Tuesday 1st July. We are not fully subscribed yet so the prizes will be reduced to reflect this. On the basis of 363 members prizes will be as follows - 1 prize of £363, 1 prize of £181.50, 3 prizes of £72.60, 3 prizes of £36.30 and 3 prizes of £18.15. Winners will be notified by the end of next week.

10 June 2008 - Department of Health Consultation

The latest DoH Consultation was published yesterday and can be found on the DoH website titled - Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances - and related services - in Primary Care. First impressions are that the DoH have listened to the feedback that has been submitted by all parties and the proposals should not have a detrimental impact on stoma patients. We will be reviewing the document in further depth over the coming weeks and will update you accordingly.

23rd April 2008 - Office Move / Helpline

We are planning to continue our Helpline service throughout the course of the office move. Due to the requirement for B.T. to move our telephone numbers to our new property, there may be some disruption to the service on Friday 25th April. Please bear with us during this time and we will resume our normal service next week.

15th April 2008 - Colostomy Association Office Move

The Colostomy Association Head Office is moving and, with effect from 25th April, our new office address will be 2 London Court, East Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4QL. Telephone numbers remain unchanged. The office will be closed on 24th and 25th April and letters, e-mails will be responded to as soon after the move as possible.

2nd April 2008 - Daily Mail Health Article

Many of you will have read the Virginia Ironside article in the Health section of the Daily Mail yesterday. It is good that somebody in the public eye is able to speak openly about having a stoma and the article has certainly provoked an increase in telephone calls to the office and hits on our website. We have received a number of calls giving feedback on the article and we have written to the Daily Mail and posted a comment on their website to clarify the position on driving and lifting following a stoma operation. The comments made by the surgeon were misleading and it is important that people should know this. You should not drive until you are able to perform an emergency stop without pain (check your insurer for further details) and lifting too soon after an operation runs the risk of causing hernias.

29th June 2007 - RADAR Keys now available from Colostomy Association

We have come to an agreement with the National Key Scheme which enables us to offer RADAR Keys to ostomates at a cost of £3.50 each. The keys give access to approx 7000 locked public toilets around the country. If you would like a RADAR key please telephone our office number 0118 939 1537 for further information.

20th June 2007 - Travel Insurance

We are pleased to announce that we will shortly be able to offer Travel Insurance specifically designed for Ostomates. A link to the Insurance Company will be appearing on this web site shortly and an article will be included in the Summer edition of Tidings. This is a very exciting development for the Colostomy Association and we hope that you will find the rates very competitive.