About Us

The aim of the Haemochromatosis in Wales Support Group is to support the members of the Haemochromatosis Society living in Wales. We do this by providing a link to the Society; an opportunity to meet regularly; offering a listening and understanding ear, a platform for members to talk about their fears, discuss treatment and diet; to ask each other questions that we forgot to ask at a clinic appointment; to suggest and receive ideas on how to cope on a “bad day”.

Haemochromatosis is often referred to as the 'Curse of the Celts', it affects up to 1 in 400 people in the UK and about 1 in 10 are carriers. There is a particular high proportion of people with Celtic backgrounds, this is particularly pertinant in Wales, where the population is made up of indigenous Welsh Celts, along with a high proportion of Scottish and Irish immigrant backgrounds brought into Wales in the late 19th and early 20th Century in search of work in the Welsh Coalfields.

The Support Group offers help and encouragement because after diagnosis, it is quite common to feel alone.  Haemochromatosis is not well known generally, but being aware that there is someone or somewhere those effected can go to talk, really helps.

Many members travel a fair distance to attend meetings, it gives people something to look forward to, especially when they know that the other people attending understand the condition.  At the meetings, nobody makes judgements, we are all on a par, members have remarked that the meetings and unision felt, likened the group to being part of a family.  We all respect the confidentiality of the individual members of the group.