A Celebration of Community & Educational Excellence

A Retrospective Review of the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) Roadshow at The Priory Rooms, Birmingham, 29th May 2026.

 

 

The Power of Community & Coordinated Care

 

There is a singular, magical warmth that occurs when patients, medical experts, educational leaders, and specialised equipment suppliers gather under one roof. Living with a chronic, long-term condition like lymphoedema can often feel like navigating a confusing, fragmented world alone. That is precisely why events run by the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) are so important. They serve as a welcoming sanctuary of shared learning and clinical reassurance, offering not only top-tier clinical insight but also a deeply reassuring reminder that no one has to walk this path in isolation.

This retrospective review explores the outstanding educational and organisational framework of the LSN Roadshow. The Roadshow represented a perfect marriage between academic and practical learning. By giving patients practical, proven ways to look after themselves safely at home, the LSN showed how deeply they value each person's unique journey, whilst keeping clinical safety and close teamwork with medical professionals at the very heart of everything they do.

 

A Closer Look: The Clinical Progression of the Day

The roadshow was thoughtfully planned to match the natural steps patients take as they learn to live with chronic swelling. The day began with gentle, reassuring explanations of medical and surgical treatments in the morning, before moving comfortably into hands-on self-care and emotional support in the afternoon. Rather than dry academic talks, the LSN brought together some of the UK's most comforting and knowledgeable specialists to share practical, easy-to-follow advice that can be put into practice straight away at home.

 

 

The morning kicked off with a strong focus on scientific and surgical foundations. Dr Keeley's opening session on 'Future Hope in Lymphoedema Management' established an inspiring and forward-looking tone, which was perfectly balanced by Professor Gore's highly specialised overview of surgical pathways. Recognising that patient safety must always remain paramount, Dr Keeley then led an essential session on cellulitis, focusing on early identification and rapid intervention. The morning concluded with an invaluable, collaborative Q&A panel where patients could speak directly with these leading authorities.

 

In the afternoon, lymphoedema practitioners Lynne Malcolm and Beverley Edmunds provided outstanding, evidence-based instruction on compression and skin care. They explained the fundamental importance of maintaining skin barrier integrity to prevent secondary infections and outlined the role of medical compression garments in managing tissue compliance and encouraging fluid clearance. They were both so knowledgeable and passionate about their work and ventured into the audience to show them recommended products, truly fabulous ladies. 

One such product they demonstrated was called the Arion Magnide®—specifically the Magnide® 2in1. Julie and I hear all the time that putting on and taking off medical compression garments, especially closed-toe stockings and tights, can feel like a tiring and exhausting struggle, particularly when trying to pull the fabric over the heel, which is the broadest part of the foot. The Arion Magnide® solves this beautifully by using an innovative, patented magnetic closure system combined with a double-layered, exceptionally smooth, glide-coated fabric. This clever design dramatically minimises the friction between the stocking and the skin, allowing the garment to slide effortlessly into place with very little physical effort. It is an absolute blessing for individuals managing joint pain, limited mobility, or delicate skin, as it helps protect the skin barrier from fingernail damage whilst restoring a wonderful sense of independence and comfort to daily self-care.

 

Emotional Wellbeing & Self-Advocacy: Gaynor Leech

 

Karen Freitt, CEO of LSN introduces Gaynor Leech, LWO Community

 

Dedicated patient advocate Gaynor Leech (the unstoppable founder of the LWO Community) delivered a deeply moving talk on 'Emotional Wellbeing'. Gaynor spoke with extraordinary honesty about 'diagnostic guilt,' sharing a personal story about her great-granddaughter who was born with a lymphatic malformation (cystic hygroma) that did not develop properly in the womb. She noted how her granddaughter’s mother has never stopped beating herself up, thinking she did something wrong, when in truth, she did absolutely nothing wrong. This validated the deep, unspoken burden of self-blame that so many patients and families carry across both primary and secondary lymphoedema diagnoses.

Gaynor also highlighted the physical and emotional exhaustion of navigating a complex healthcare system. 'It is exhausting being your own advocate, and we have to fight every day,' she stated passionately, adding that 'nobody should have to fight for the treatment that they deserve.' She described the daily, invisible struggles of living with lymphoedema, such as chronic fatigue, sleeplessness, muscle tension, and irritability. Importantly, she addressed the 'constant vigilance' required to monitor the skin—the ever-present anxiety that a minor cut, scratch, or insect bite might trigger a severe, acute bout of cellulitis. She shared survey results from her group showing that while 49% had never experienced cellulitis, 50% unfortunately had, making this a major driver of chronic illness-related anxiety.

A key theme of the talk was body image and reclaiming personal agency through self-expression. Gaynor candidly described the daily reality of compression wear, humorously recalling that when she first started, 'there was beige,' whereas patients today can choose vibrant colours and modern garments like Comfiwave and their breast bands, which she described as a major game-changer. She urged the audience to 'Speak kindly to yourself... Move your body with joy.' With a warm smile, she paused to add a delightful, humorous call-out: 'That's for my friend Mary at the back. She put that in when she was proofreading it!'. I love to work with Gaynor on her projects, she is just delightful! 

To illustrate the daily societal misunderstandings patients face, Gaynor shared a witty story about being rudely confronted by a stranger for parking in a disabled space with a blue badge. When the woman finished her rant, Gaynor calmly asked her, 'Excuse me, can I ask you a question?... Do you have a brain? Because I can't see it.' This story perfectly captured her resilient, sharp wit and her refusal to let external judgement diminish her dignity or her right to navigate the world comfortably.

 

Gaynor Leech, LWO Community engaging with attendees

 

Finally, Gaynor drew a beautiful line between solitude—which she chooses and cherishes, such as her quiet late-night reading sessions in her chair while her husband reads in bed—and the devastating isolation of loneliness. She urged everyone to maintain daily human contact, noting that 'each and every one of us should speak to someone every day.' She spoke about her pride in the L-W-O Community achieving the prestigious Patient Information Forum 'PIF TICK' quality accreditation, a standard rarely achieved by smaller volunteer organisations. She described how her team monitors the online group to provide safe, non-judgemental spaces, sharing how she has stayed up until 2:00 am talking to members who were on the verge of suicide due to a total lack of local support. These online spaces, she concluded, are literal lifelines for a neglected community.

Tying physical wellness back to biophysical science, Gaynor introduced the concept of the glymphatic system—the brain's internal 'night shift worker'—to explain why high-quality, screen-free sleep is so essential for lymphatic health. She explained how sleeping in a bed (as opposed to sitting in a chair) and maintaining a consistent bedtime rhythm supports the body's natural immune and lymphatic repair pathways, reinforcing the day's clinical message from a deeply holistic perspective. You can view our video of the talk here.

 

Reclaiming Physical Movement and Nutrition

The lovely Anna Swinburn

 

Following Gaynor's moving talk which was incredibly well received by the audience, the practical programme continued with a strong focus on physical recovery and metabolic health. Anna Swinburn explored the vital role of gentle, structured physical activity and seated exercises, illustrating how movement acts as a natural muscular pump to encourage lymphatic drainage and preserve joint mobility.

 

Renowned lymphology expert Jane Wigg of Lymphoedema Training Academy conducted a highly practical, hands-on demonstration of Self-Lymphatic Drainage (SLD) techniques.

Auditing The Event: Organisational & Venue Performance

The administrative and logistical execution of an educational roadshow is just as vital as its clinical content. If a patient is stressed by travel, struggles to access a building, or feels physically uncomfortable, their capacity for learning is severely compromised. To maintain the highest standard of organisational excellence, the LSN utilised a highly structured five-point evaluation questionnaire to gather anonymous, confidential feedback across eight key organisational pillars. These vital pillars spanned the initial booking of a place, the helpfulness of the LSN team on-site, the physical comfort of the venue facilities, the accessibility of the Priory Rooms, pre-event communication, the quality of catering, the medical equipment exhibition, and the overall value of the day. 

Understanding the Community: Patient Demographics

To tailor future regional support events, the LSN evaluation systematically gathered essential demographic data, capturing the broad, complex spectrum of the lymphoedema community. Attendees represented both primary and secondary lymphoedema diagnoses, drawing from both established LSN members and non-members seeking answers for the first time.

Specifically, the survey tracked whether the chronic swelling was cancer-related (such as secondary head and neck lymphoedema following oncology treatments) or non-cancer related. The anatomical distribution of swelling among attendees spanned the entire physical spectrum, including the upper limbs, lower limbs, body, and the highly challenging, sensitive head and neck areas. By supporting such a diverse audience, the LSN continues to ensure that no voice is left unheard and no presentation is neglected in the wider clinical landscape.

The Exhibitors

Essity, are a leading global hygiene and health company, improving well-being through innovative and sustainable products, shaping a healthier future for people, business and society.

Oxford Lymphoedema Practice: It was a real privilege to exhibit alongside the pioneering reconstructive microsurgeons from the Oxford Lymphoedema Practice, who have been leading lights in our community since first bringing LVA supermicrosurgery to the UK in 2012. Over the last decade, their expert team has performed more than 500 delicate operations, helping individuals find profound relief and physical comfort from chronic swelling. They are constant advocates for clinical progress, regularly sharing their outcomes and publishing research to help shape the future of supportive care for everyone.

LymphVision: We were equally delighted to connect with LymphVision, a specialist, nurse-led clinic based in Staffordshire led by renowned lymphology expert Jane Wigg and dedicated to supporting individuals living with lymphoedema and lipoedema. Their world-leading team combines advanced technology, such as state-of-the-art lymphatic imaging, with comprehensive clinical assessments and gentle, hands-on care like Manual Lymphatic Drainage. By blending medical expertise with a deeply supportive approach, they ensure everyone in their care receives the most advanced and effective treatments to restore comfort and physical wellbeing.

We also spent some wonderful time with Anna from Accelerate, a pioneering London-based social enterprise and Centre of Excellence dedicated to transforming outcomes in chronic wounds, lymphoedema, lipoedema, and mobility. Operating as a regulated Community Interest Company, their highly specialised clinical team is on a tireless mission to improve lives through cutting-edge clinical pathways, education, and hands-on care. As passionate champions of the 'Legs Matter' campaign, they combine clinical innovation with a deeply compassionate, person-centred approach that restores independence, dignity, and comfort to everyone they support."

 

Adam Withey of Juzo and Steve Donnelly of Haddenham

 

For the team at PhysioPod® UK, participating as an exhibitor was a genuine highlight, offering a lovely opportunity to connect with long-standing professional friends and wonderful attendees.

It is always an absolute joy to catch up with Adam Withey of Juzo, whom we have known for as long as we have been in business, and who never fails to teach us something new and valuable about specialised compression. Juzo develop and manufacture compression garments, bandages and orthoses using the latest research and technology for the treatment of venous disorders, lipoedema and lymphoedema, scar management and orthopaedics. If you haven't heard of them before they are definitely worth taking a look at.

It was equally wonderful to see Steve Donnelly of Haddenham, who is always so incredibly warm and supportive of us and the entire Lymphoedema community. Haddenham Healthcare is a family-owned, UK-based medical device company and they specialise in compression therapy for lymphoedema and related conditions, designing products that integrate seamlessly into patients’ daily lives.

Demonstrating DEEP OSCILLATION® is always a joy! It's like holding a box of magic that individuals can use safely as a non-invasive tool for daily lymphoedema self-care, helping them to find comfort and confidence in managing their swelling and pain (if present) at home.

 

Concluding Reflections: A Model for Regional Support

 

The Birmingham Roadshow at the Priory Rooms stands as a glowing testament to what can be achieved when a dedicated charity, passionate clinicians, and an engaged community unite. It is an extraordinary blueprint for patient-centred education. By combining deep scientific rigour with practical home-care parameters—and wrapping it all in a warm, supportive, and accessible environment—the LSN has set a standard that deserves to be replicated across the country. At PhysioPod® UK, we are incredibly proud to support and celebrate the tireless work of the Lymphoedema Support Network. It is through this collaborative spirit that we can continue to bridge the gap between peer-reviewed science and the everyday physical and emotional comfort of our lovely lymphoedema community. Thank you to LSN for all that you do!

 

Mary and Julie 

Sisters and Directors of PhysioPod UK and PhysioEquipment