The Falls and Bone Health Section of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) will be debating whether falls assessment tools are a waste of time at its tenth international multidisciplinary conference on Falls and Postural Stability on 7 September 2009 in Blackpool. 

This one-day event will bring together experts in this field to share their knowledge and research findings with all those with a special interest in falls and mobility issues.   International speakers will deliver lectures on topics ranging from falls prevention in care homes to the medical assessment and management of fallers and how to manage dizzy patients.  These talks will be complemented by workshops covering orthogeriatrics, osteoporosis, occupational therapy tools, the Otago Home Exercise Programme and a session on teaching getting up from the floor.

There will also be an exhibition of posters presenting recent audit results and falls and fractures related research findings.

Professor Tahir Masud, BGS Falls and Bone Health Section Conference organiser said: “We want to bring together all those with a clinical interest in falls and bone health.  This event provides an opportunity to share knowledge and best practice with multidisciplinary colleagues so that we can improve care outcomes for patients.”

The event is open to non-BGS members and is CPD accredited by the Royal College of Physicians.  Delegate rates start at £130 for health care professionals and students and go up to £160 for junior doctors and GPs and £200 for consultants.  Discounts are available for members of the BGS Falls and Bones section and if delegates wish to take up membership they should contact Dr Rob Morris on drbob@innotts.co.uk.  To access the full conference programme and to register for the event, click here or call 0115 840 2608.

The BGS offers grants to young doctors, nurses and therapists to help with funding travel and accommodation to attend the event.  Click here for further details.

For more information about the British Geriatrics Society, contact Iona-Jane Harris on 020 7608 8573 or 07766 227724 or email ionajaneharris@bgs.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) is a membership association of doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists and others with a particular interest in the care of the frail older person and in promoting better health in old age. 
2. The BGS strives to promote better understanding of the healthcare needs of older people and to share examples of best practice to ensure that older patients are treated with dignity and respect by all clinical staff they come into contact with.
3. The BGS welcomes any healthcare professional with a particular interest in the care of older people to join the society and to benefit from its collective expertise.