FH Europe Website is Launched

Since its inception in 2015, the FH Europe network has grown to include 23 member organisations in 22 countries, all sharing the goal of identifying as many people as possible who have familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and ensuring they receive early and appropriate treatment.

In 2016, FH Europe representatives manned stands at the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) annual conference and the European Conference on Internal Medicine in Amsterdam to raise awareness of the condition to medical professionals. A co-ordinator was recruited to provide part-time support and a 2016 Membership Directory produced. Awareness-raising has developed with a Twitter account, a Facebook page and now the fheurope.org website is here – to provide a central point for information, news, member contact details and much more. We hope you will enjoy our new resource!

Representatives of the FH Europe network meet annually for a face-to-face meeting to share experiences, network and learn from healthcare professionals about developments in treatment. A 2016 survey revealed that members, almost all of whom are volunteers, wished to know more about lobbying to persuade and convince decision-makers about the need for appropriate treatment for FH patients. Moving further into the virtual universe, the 2017 annual meeting in Budapest will offer an advocacy training session and workshop which will be recorded and also live streamed on the internet so that national association members can share the experience, supported by a toolkit. FH Europe intends to ensure that members are equipped to reinforce arguments at national, regional and local level and obtain the best possible care for FH patients.

As the American industrialist Henry Ford said: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”