Letter from Susan Broatch, Chair - Trustees I am delighted to welcome three new Trustees to the STARS board: Andrew Fear, Cathrine Reid and Professor Rose Anne Kenny. Cathrine’s son has RAS and Andrew’s wife, daughter and father-in-law are all affected by syncope. Andrew and Cathrine have been passionate volunteers and supporters of STARS for many years, raising funds and awareness from local fundraising to national events. Professor Rose Anne Kenny, a Geriatrician, is already a Patron of STARS and has pioneered a team-based approach to supporting individuals with syncope in her Falls Clinic in Newcastle. She will open a new Falls Clinic in Dublin very soon, and brings a wealth of medical knowledge to the Board as well as a professional commitment to improving the quality of life for those affected by syncope. . We have said goodbye and many thanks to Jo Jerome, one of STARS original Trustees, who has stood down as a Trustee because of family commitments. This leaves five Trustees including Dr William Whitehouse and myself. We hope as a Board to be able to offer support to Trudie and her team as they work, week by week to provide STARS essential support and information services and as they seek to expand STARS Contents influence throughout the USA and Europe. Letter from the Chair.............................. page 2 I was unhappy with the Diagnosis ........... page 3 Benefits of Patient Access ........................ page 4 Vasovagal Syncope ................................ page 6 Memory Loss ......................................... page 7 Wesley’s Story ....................................... page 8 Autonomic Nervous System; STARS ......... page 9 That Beer Thing ................................... page 10 STARS Annual Conference 2006 ........... page 11 It’s RAS ............................................... page 12 Neurocardiogenic Syncope .................. page 13 Dear Trudie ......................................... page 14 Jenny’s Story ....................................... page 15 Volunteers Descend on STARS Office ..... page 16 New Computerised Care Record System.. page 17 Just a Shadow of Merlin ....................... page 18 Raffle; Publications Order Form ............ page 19 Subscriptions and Donations ................ page 20 2
STARS Volunteer Training Day was very well attended in November, with volunteers working on developing a forward thinking plan for STARS. All the Trustees will be involved in developing STARS Strategic Plan, which seeks to create a clear vision and challenging goals for the coming years. It is clear that STARS must work in partnership with everyone affected by syncope if we want to achieve what is possible in the future. Thank you for your support for STARS in 2005 and for your commitment, which will support STARS’ plans in 2006. Susan Broatch
