About this site

History

Printed editions

In 2008, three people met in a pub and discussed a support group for patients with Barrett's Oesophagus. In 2009 Barrett's Wessex was born. Initially it was part of a national charity Barrett's Oesophagus Campaign (BOC) but, with their blessing, became an independent charity in 2012.

Meanwhile, in response to requests, in 2011 Barrett's Wessex produced a series of photocopiable masters entitled "Burning Questions".

Other requests continued via the BOC forum and, other than continue writing FAQ sheets, Chris Robinson decided to compile a book providing information for patients. All the facts had to be thoroughly checked to ensure accuracy with the chapters written in straightforward language accessible to lay patients, which took several months.

By October 2015, the book was ready and 100 copies printed and bound by Chris were ready in time for an inaugural meeting of a new branch of the charity in Bath (Edition 0). The books went like hot cakes; it was obvious far more copies would be required than could be home produced.

With help from a grant from Southampton City Council, the first commercially produced edition was printed in 2016 (Edition 1). At the same time, the pages were copied into a website created for the purpose. 

In 2017, with Edition 1 fast selling out (though it was always free but donations welcomed), with some additions and minor revisions Edition 2 was published.

Edition 3, again with a few additions and minor revisions, was published in 2019 as Edition 2 again sold out.

In Spain, Barrett's Wessex's counterpart, Asenbar, had the book translated into Spanish with the aid of a grant, for its members. Apaga Tu Ardor 2019

The website was revised to be an on-screen version of DWA3.

The Website 

The website was becoming increasingly the focus. When DWA had been mentioned on BBC Radio and in national newspapers, visitor numbers to the website rocketed.

The online BOC forum, which Barrett's Wessex had taken over, had closed with many members transferring membership to the BarrettsEsophagusAwareness Facebook group Chris was now managing.

Now more questions were increasingly being asked leading to the creation of new material and Extra Pages were added and other additions made to the main chapters withoout compromising the integrity of the initial encyclopaedia.

The future

As new scientific findings superseded earlier beliefs, and as new diagnostic and treatment tools and medication become available, parts of the website will, from time to time, be amended as appropriate.

Where changes are made, publication dates will be added to the foot of the page(s) revised.

An additional advantage of the online medium is any appropriate video clips may be provided.

From Chris on the first website of the book (edited):

I spend much of my time answering questions on acid reflux and its complications on various on-line forums and facebook groups.

Ignorance is supposed to be bliss but it can be fatal. The principal aim of the charity I co-founded, Barrett's Wessex, was "to reduce the number of deaths to oesophageal cancer through raising awareness of its predominant pre-cancerous lesion, Barrett's Oesophagus." In addition, many misconceptions about reflux and its associated conditions and risks continually recur that I feel need addressing.

[N.B. Barrett's Wessex no longer exits but its work continues under the auspices of "Barrett's Patient Support".]

I decided it was time a book was written about it in layman's language sharing what I have learned through study and research over a number of years and guided by my own experiences.

So this site started as a version of a book which I want to be freely available. 

However, I am not a doctor and this book is not intended to provide medical advice.

Chris Robinson

Page last updated 13 January 2023