Our History

Our idea began in 2007 in Brighton, after a number of OOKP patients discussed forming a support service. The consultant at that time (Prof. Christopher Liu), could provide medical support, some patients were asking emotional questions he could not answer. A patient called Martin Jones had support service experience, being chair of his local visually impaired persons charity and was enthusiastic to pursue this dream, to form a peer lead service, providing exactly what patients needed.

Support from patients was amazing, but red tape prevented the services progress. It took almost 10 years to obtain the support to produce this necessary service.

Only when the OOKP service moved to Moorfields, did the dedicated surgeon Alfonso Perez and his team, agree, such a peer lead support service for patients and their families should exist. 

Therefore, Martin was contacted again, and with his knowledge and enthusiasm still strong, Moorfields arranged a meeting of OOKP patients and put the suggestion to them.

In July 2025, it was agreed, the support service would begin, and we now have a website and monthly newsletter for all involved with OOKP, packed with information, articles, support services for patients and their families and much much more, dedicated to answer any question patients and families raise,.

It took time, but we've come a long way since those first discussions, and with the help of Martin Jones, Moorfields and the OOKP team, we now have a dedicated support service, to help those people, past, present, and in the future, who require answers to questions which have held them back

 Our Vision

You can read a detailed explanation of our vision in the "Our Mission" section. However, a brief synopsis is simple.

• * We want to provide a support service, to all involved with OOKP, whether patients, family or professionals, which addresses the emotional questions and challenges faced with pre and post OOKP surgery.

• We want to offer services which patients request, from pre surgery peer support, to post surgery assistance back to work. From answering pre surgery emotional questions, to post operation help with appearance confidence.

• We want to offer support through phone and email contact, where questions can be asked and answers provided, along with a dedicated WhatsApp group, where members can ask a question and other members can provide answers based on their experience.

• We want our service to be completely peer lead, where OOKP patients can request a service and our members work towards providing this service bespoke to the person asking.

• Finally, to provide as many support avenues as possible, we want to invite volunteers to help. For example, offering buddy support to OOKP patients, or teaching patients new skills, like learning to use accessible tech. We also want to transfer this service into a recognised charity,, to apply for funding,  providing grants to members, to obtain the equipment and assistance they need.

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This is our vision. Even after 10 years, the enthusiasm to make these dreams a reality, are still as strong now as they've always been. 

With your help and support, we can make this a reality

Our Promise 

Promises are easy to break, so should always remain simple, inclusive and achievable .

Therefore, we promise:

• All board members will be selected for their dedication to supporting (in whatever way they can) the needs of those involved with OOKP surgery.

• The board will endeavour to provide the services requested, providing it is in the interest of giving OOKP patients the life skill they desire.

• Members will give constructive feedback to the board, so they can develop the service to be the best it possibly can, to help patients achieve independence 

These promises we'll endeavour to keep, so this support service can be used by members, provide a professional but empathic service to all members; and be regarded as the most productive support service around, with ethics and delivery of service others aim to attain.

With the enthusiasm, ideas and determination members are showing, we should have no problem achieving these promises and goals we've set ourselves.

PLEASE JOIN US IN MAKING THIS WORK!