OPUS A registered Charity
Number: 1086930

Charity Patrons
Lord Livsey of Talgarth
The Rt Rev'd Michael Hooper, Bishop of Ludlow
Professor Andrew Watteson
Professor Malcolm Hooper
John Melville Williams QC

Why OPUS exists

OPUS was established to provide advice and support to people living in the border region of England and Wales who are suffering from exposure to pesticides. Exploratory meetings held at Ludlow (November 1999), Builth Wells (June 2000) and Ludlow (November 2000) demonstrated that potentially large numbers of people, especially farmers and their families, are suffering ill health through exposure to sheep dips and other agro-chemicals. These people have often accessed specialist medical help, but require further support and encouragement to help them come to terms with the disability through exposure. One of the most common complaints is that, because OP poisoning is both difficult to diagnose and treat, they feel a sense of hopelessness and that ultimately nobody cares.
National organisations such as the Pesticides Trust and OPIN (the OP information Network), both of which work alongside OPUS, produce information and campaign on behalf of those suffering. However, the local meetings demonstrated the need for a local response, able to support and help families through networking, events and regular contact. OPUS, therefore, is developing into a mutually supporting network of those suffering, with access to specialist help and advice, and is concentrated geographically in Mid Wales and the Marches. OPUS links into the existing farming support groups in the area such as the Shropshire Rural Stress Network, the Herefordshire Rural Stress Action Group and the Powys Rural Stress Initiative.
The main medical problems suffered by farmers with OP poisoning are chronic fatigue syndrome, sub-cortical dementia, multiple chemical sensitivity, psychiatric instability and osteoporosis. OPs are primarily known to cause cancer and birth defects, but there are many other ways in which OPs can cause damage to health.

OPUS will support members in the following ways

1. By providing a volunteer link worker to go and see farmers and their families at home to explain how they can access information about their ill health and get action. Such a worker will be visiting farmers at home, by appointment, to show them how to use the internet, for example, to access the OPUS website where information about medical matters, legal matters and local support can be found.
2. Volunteers such as ex-farm worker Richard Bruce, himself a sufferer of OP poisoning, has had a great deal of experience of the workings of the medical and legal profession. Sufferers can ask questions of Richard directly and can be put in touch with other families if they so wish. Click here to e-mail him.
3. If you would rather personal contact please telephone OPUS and speak directly with Reverend Nick Read on 01544 388998.
4. OPUS, by promoting conferences for medical consultants, general practitioners and lay people will raise awareness of the problems of OP poisoning and educate them about longer term management of affected sufferers.
5. In order to promote these ideals website content will be regularly updated by Dr Sarah Myhill (medical), as well as the OPUS team led by Reverend Nick Read.

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