The Team

   Dr Stefan Siebert
Stefan is a consultant rheumatologist in Bridgend and a Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology at Swansea University. He works with NASS and is the Welsh medical advisor for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). He has a specialist interest in Ankylosing Spondylitis and in improving care for people with arthritis in Wales.
Contact
School of Medicine, Swansea University.

   Dr Sinead Brophy
Sinead has worked in the field of AS reasearch for 12+ years starting originally in the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath (1998-2003). She has been working with NASS for those 12 years. She has a specialist interest in cohort research using routine data and is Senior Lecturer in the Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Imoprovement (DECIPHer) which is one of five new UKCRC Centres of Public Health Research Excellence.
Contact
Email: s.brophy@swansea.ac.uk
Tel: 01792 602058
Post: School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP.

   Mrs Liz Irvine
Liz Irvine is the manager of the database for this project and is in charge of the day to day running of the work. She previously worked with the Air Ambulance and has a special interest in emergency care as a first responder for emergency calls. She is the first point of contact if you ring up to find out more about this project.
Contact
Email: e.m.irvine@swansea.ac.uk
Post: School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP.

   Mr Ryan Lever
Ryan is the software developer who has helped to develop the AS in Wales website. If you would like to make any comments regarding the site or suggest ways of improving the site please contact him.
Contact
Email: r.lever@swansea.ac.uk
Post: School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP.

Current Results:

Those surveyed to date.

  • Number of people taking part: 652 (438 Male, 157 Female, 57 Unknown)
  • Average age at diagnosis: 33 years
  • Average age at first symptoms: 24 years
  • Time delay from symptoms to diagnosis: 9 years

Quote: Effects Flares have on your life

On my worst days, when I can do nothing at all, I feel better by being horizontal.