Events

Updated Sunday 21 June 2020

Professor John Nicholls discussing the history and evolution of the Internal Pouch procedure.

This week’s Red Lion Group Zoom meeting featured the eminent surgeon, Professor John Nicholls, who spoke about the history and evolution of the different surgical procedures for the treatment of bowel diseases, including the pouch procedure of which he was, with Sir Alan Parks, the first surgeon to describe and carry out the procedure. This was a fascinating talk, especially as so many attending the talk have Professor Nicholls to thank for their own pouch! You can view the recording of the talk by clicking on the picture above.

This was the last session in the Zoom into Summer schedule to feature a guest speaker, however as mentioned at the meeting by Red Lion Group chairman, David Davies, we intend to hold further Zoom meetings in the format of an informal “coffee morning” chat, like the open forums we usually hold at the end of our annual Information Days. The first one is provisionally scheduled for Thursday 2 July at 10:30 am. Further details to follow!

Thanks to everyone that has supported our Zoom events and sent such positive feedback, and special thanks to all of our speakers. We have had over 100 people that have taken part, and look forward to seeing you on our first coffee morning meeting!


Updated Sunday 14 June 2020

Zoom into Summer with Zarah Perry-Woodford – Living with a Pouch

This week 48 of us had the pleasure of listening to Zarah Perry-Woodford, followed by a vibrant question and answer session covering a variety of Pouch related issues. If you missed the session, you can see a replay by clicking on the picture of Zarah above.

Next Thursday you will have the opportunity of hearing from Prof. John Nicholls who, with Sir Alan Parks more than 40 years ago, pioneered the procedure we know now as the Internal Pouch or IPAA. We look forward to hearing his personal reflection on 40 years of the pouch procedure on Thursday 18 June at 10:30 am.

Please don’t forget to register to receive the Zoom meeting Link. You can register by tapping the button below. Note that this zoom meeting will be immediately followed by the AGM (Annual General Meeting) of the Red Lion Group, and Red Lion Group members are invited/encouraged to remain on the Zoom for the AGM. We promise it will be short and sweet and further information about the AGM will be sent out seperately to members.

Note the main presentation from Prof. Nicholls is open to all, not just RLG members!

Register Now


Updated Tuesday 9 June 2020

Links to the recordings from the first three Zoom into Summer sessions are now available. Click on the pictures below to view the recordings of Dr. Yoram Inspector, Janindra Warusavitarne and Jason Bacon respectively.

Don’t forget to register for this week’s Zoom featuring Zarah Perry-Woodford if you have not already done so!


Updated Sunday 7 June 2020

Dr. Yoram Inspector – the link between the Brain and the Gut

Another “lockdown ” week gone by, and another fascinating Red Lion Group Zoom meeting, this week featuring Dr. Yoram Inspector, Consultant at the Psychological Medicine Unit (PMU) at St Mark’s Hospital. Yoram shared his unique perspective on the link between the brain and the gut, with a good measure of Greek Classics and Mythology thrown in! Make sure to look out for the recording if you missed it.

It’s not too late to register for the Zoom meeting this coming Thursday 11 June (10:30 – 11:30) where this weeks guest speaker will be Zarah Perry-Woodford.  Zarah has a CV that reads like a medical Who’s Who. A pioneer in patient care and support, Zarah is the Consultant Nurse at St Mark’s Hospital, the UK’s centre of excellence for pouch and stoma care. Zarah speaks and presents at national and international conferences, writes for the leading medical and nursing journals and in 2016 wrote the definitive “Ileo-Anal Pouch Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis – a Guide for Patients” – a work that has become the go-to bible for those who have had or are about to have pouch surgery. She was also a very active medical liaison officer with the Red Lion Group.

After spending several years developing and expanding the ileo-anal pouch service at St Mark’s Hospital, Zarah is now a key member of the team working on the NHS-sponsored “Ostomate Project”, which aims to expand and develop stomacare services and products throughout the UK.

You must register to receive the Zoom meeting Invitation.

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Scroll down for further information about upcoming meetings.


Updated Sunday 31 May 2020

Janindra Warusavitarne – Innovation in Pouch Surgery

Thursday we had another enjoyable and enlightening Zoom meeting with over 40 attendees, watching and listening to Janindra Warusavitarne. His talk was followed by a lively Q&A session. Janindra was also complimented on having the best book shelf seen on Zoom so far!

If you attended you will also have heard about the further exciting speakers lined up for future sessions. On Thursday June 11, we have the pleasure of hearing from Zarah Perry-Woodford, lead nurse – pouch and stoma care, St Mark’s Hospital. Many of you will know Zarah from personal experience, and as you will know, Zarah literally wrote the book on “Ileo-Anal Pouch Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis – A Guide for Patients“. You can see further details about Zarah and her book in a previous post here.

Hot off the press news is that our speaker on Thursday 18 June will be none other than Professor John Nicholls. As many of you will know, Prof. Nicholls (with Sir Alan Parks) pioneered the surgical procedure we know as the Internal Pouch or IPAA. (see recent post on their historical paper describing the procedure here ).

And don’t forget to register to attend this weeks ZOOM (Thursday 4 June) where the speaker will be Dr. Yoram Inspector, Consultant at the Psychological Medicine Unit (PMU) at St Mark’s Hospital. Amongst his interests and specialities is Psycho-Gastroenterology. His last talk at a Red Lion Group Information day, was rated the most popular by attendees with his fascinating insights into the link between the brain and the gut.

For further information, and to register please scroll down.


Updated Saturday 23 May 2020

Jason Bacon – CEO of St. Mark’s Hospital Foundation

This past Thursday, we held the first of our series of Zoom into Summer webinars and a good time was had by all. Jason Bacon, CEO of St. Mark’s Hospital Foundation gave a very interesting talk on how St. Mark’s Hospital has adapted in the light of the COVID-19 virus. A recording of the talk will soon be available on line.

Further to last weeks update, I can now confirm that the talk by Dr. Yoram Inspector will be on Thursday, 4 June (10:30 – 11:30). Anyone that has attended one of his talks will know that he is one of our most popular Information Day presenters. Dr. Inspector is a Consultant at the Psychological Medicine Unit (PMU) at St Mark’s Hospital. Amongst his interests and specialities is Psycho-Gastroenterology.

It’s not too late to register for the Zoom meeting this coming Thursday 28 May (10:30 – 11:30) where this weeks guest speaker will be Janindra Warusavitarne, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital. Janindra has a particular interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques and is at the forefront of developments in Pouch Surgery.

Details of how to register are below. So come on fellow pouchees and guests! Bring your morning cuppa, and join us for elevenses with an interesting talk with time for Q&A and discussion.


We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a series of Pouch related webinars (using the ZOOM facility), with guest speakers talking on a variety of subjects that will be of interest to our community.

Attendance is FREE and is open to Red Lion Group members and non-members alike. As you may know, regrettably we had to postpone the RLG annual Information Day usually held at St. Mark’s Hospital, but here is a chance to catch up with some of the speakers you would have heard from at the Info day and meet online with other Pouchees!

The following online meetings are currently scheduled (more to follow) :-


Jason Bacon

Thursday 21 May 2020 Time 10:30 – 11:30 BST
Guest Speaker Jason Bacon (CEO of St. Mark’s Hospital Foundation)


Janindra Warusavitarne

Thursday 28 May 2020 Time 10:30 – 11:30 BST
Guest Speaker Janindra Warusavitarne, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital.


Dr. Yoram Inspector

Thursday 4 June 2020 Time 10:30 – 11:30 BST
Guest Speaker Dr. Yoram Inspector, Consultant at the Psychological Medicine Unit (PMU) at St Mark’s Hospital.


Zarah Perry-Woodford

Thursday 11 June 2020 Time 10:30 – 11:30 BST
Guest Speaker Zarah Perry-Woodford, lead nurse – pouch and stoma care, St Mark’s Hospital


Prof. Nicholls receiving gift from Chairman David Davies after speaking at Information Day 2017

Thursday 18 June 2020 Time 10:30 – 11:30 BST
Guest Speaker Prof. John Nicholls – The Rear Admiral (retired)


If you would like to attend any session, please register your name and email address by clicking the button below. Please indicate the session(s) you would like to attend. You will be sent joining instructions in due course.

Register Now

Zoom is FREE and extremely easy to use, and you can join with the press of a button from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. There are no costs to you in joining the webinar.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and receiving your registrations!

Gary Bronziet
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