Hello I was given the opportunity by Cochlear UK to attend the BCIG meeting which is attended by professionals from various Cochlear Implant teams, Researchers etc. I was given some time to speak on Thursday, I am not a public speaker but I saw this as another opportunity to explain how it feels to be a patient and denied an implant for so many years. Feedback was it was well received and I'm hopeful it will have motivated people to see how they can help more. I explained how we need to be seen as more than just an Audiogram and a BKB score, we don't want to just be told come back in 6 months etc. How bad does it have to get before it gets any better ? Whilst I was there I listened to many individual groups, speakers who also raised the issue of candidacy of CI. We are all working towards the same goal and we need to join forces to drive home this change to NICE. There is a meeting with NCIUA on 9th June at Birbeck College in London which starts at 10.30am and has Debi Vickers from UCL speaking about the latest news on candidacy. This is £12.00 to attend and includes lunch and refreshments. I attended the meeting last year and all manufacturers are represented so it is useful for others who are waiting for an implant to meet other users and see the implants and the technology available. Please look on nciua.org.uk for further details, membership is free for the first year then £10 to cover for newsletters etc .... Many thanks Diane