Raising awareness of NPH and other conditions at The Primary Care Show

Shine attended The Primary Care Show at the NEC in Birmingham during the run-up to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Awareness Week.

The Primary Care Show is a major UK exhibition for primary and community care healthcare professionals. During the two-day event, we talked to over 300 people working in primary care for the NHS and in private practice. The professionals we engaged with included GPs, nurses, managers, podiatrists, physiotherapists, midwives, health visitors, and dietitians.  

The show facilitated networking, and we made connections that will hopefully lead to helpful collaborations and knowledge-sharing in the future. We provided materials and information about our services, allowing healthcare professionals to better understand how to support their patients with complex conditions. 

Like the conditions we support, Shine isn't always well known outside specialist services, so The Primary Care Show was an excellent opportunity to reach and boost knowledge among key healthcare audiences. For NPH Awareness Week, a special focus was on raising awareness of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). We were particularly keen to speak to podiatrists, physiotherapists, and GPs who are well-positioned to spot the early gait/mobility symptoms of NPH and make referrals for onward investigation. Early and accurate diagnosis improves the chances of treatment success and symptom management. The importance of diagnosis was the theme of this year’s NPH Awareness Week and the wider Dementia Action Week. 

During the show, we also provided information and resources about the other conditions Shine supports, including hydrocephalus, all forms of spina bifida, closed dysraphisms, anencephaly, and encephalocele. We encouraged visitors to join Shine and complete our CPD UK accredited e-learning modules.  

Exhibiting at the show was a valuable experience for Shine and the professionals we spoke with at the stand. Raising awareness among primary healthcare professionals about the conditions we support, and providing opportunities to build their knowledge and skills, will help them provide evidence-based, patient-centred care.