For half of her life, Alice Derrig has lived with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, joint pain and damage to organs, which greatly impacts her day to day. There is currently no cure for lupus, but through diligent self care and working together with her clinician Dr Edward Vital, Consultant Rheumatologist at Chapel Allerton Hospital, Alice is finding a way through to create a positive future.
Alice, 31 and from from Harrogate, tells her intimate, moving and ultimately hopeful story as part of a new BBC StoryWorks online series of short films looking at pressing health issues facing women today – The Shift.
“If I could sit with a young girl now who got diagnosed I’d tell them that you’re going to learn to live with it. Don’t be scared at all. Even on the worst days imaginable you’re going to get through it.” – Alice Derrig, patient
According to the World Economic Forum, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. Across reproduction, brain health, autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular disease, and mental health – the gaps in research, funding, and care are real. The Shift tells the stories of advocates, clinicians, and researchers who are working to close them.
Globally, around 3.4 million people live with systemic lupus erythematosus – almost 90% of them are women.
Researchers at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Leeds at Chapel Allerton Hospital are rethinking approaches to the disease – how it can be managed, and even how it could be prevented. The documentary touches on the cutting-edge research which is instrumental in enhancing understanding of the condition and supporting clinical care.
“There’s such a strong research team at Chapel Allerton. They look at you holistically, they ask how you are, they know about your life.” – Alice Derrig, patient
Alice’s story was screened alongside other episodes from the series at HLTH Europe 2026 in June, an international conference for global healthcare leaders to address challenges in health innovation and shape European health policy and practice.
The full series explores: chronic and autoimmune diseases, reproductive and maternal health, mental health research, menopause and healthy aging and cardiovascular disease.
