Looking into the face of another feeds the physicianly encounter just as attendance at our BGS national meetings feeds the spirit of our Society. To satisfy our hunger for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) we have created a diverse program for the Autumn Meeting with, we hope, a few pleasant surprises.
With updates on Epilepsy (Dr Smith), insights into podiatry (Professors Campbell and Vernon) and advances in oncological surgery (Professor Shepherd), cancer genetics (Professor Sikora) and cancer survivorship (Dr Cotterell), we hope to provide a head to toe system reboot. Without ignoring core geriatric themes such as how to manage hip fracture care in the confused patient (Dr Johansen) or the reappraisal of age discrimination in the coming decade (Professor Oliver).
The Highlights:
To help us steer safe passage through the new economic and political tide we welcome Baroness Sally Greengross who will provide an insight into the creation of culture change, and from the Department of Health, Richard Gleave will help us consider the practicalities of the new equality bill. Liberty Safeguards will also be discussed but increasing regional differences could represent a distraction. Such structural variations will be explored in the devolution dissected workshop where Professors Oliver, Khanna, Stott and Fullerton make their case. Although fisticuffs are not anticipated the theme of aggression raises its head as a primary emotion in medical practice together with it rarely discussed nursing and therapeutic considerations.
Such challenging behaviour is also not new to the care home arena. With a wealth of our members devoted to improving the care home experience we look at how innovative practice and research can be conducted locally and as part of a network (Professors McMurdo and Gladman). The Care Quality Commission with its healthy regulatory interest in the proper working of care homes will be examined (Professor O’Neil) so to the challenges for health care providers and commissioners (Dr Finbarr Martin).
Alcohol and the ageing liver from Dr Frith and colleagues, weighty matters from Dr Avenell, community case management by Aileen Fraser are included as is a dynamic critique of the ‘assessment scale’ by Professors Watkins, Young and Dr Conroy. A fresh look at Paget’s disease by Professor Ralston, the National Hip Fracture Data Base and the effects of Vibration on the Body by Dr Brooke-Wavell help add backbone to November’s programme.
Professors Courtenay, Crome and Dr O’Mahony look at non-medical prescribing, the European clinical trial charter and inappropriate prescribing in older people. Our cardiovascular special interest group has provided a ‘Valves and Vasculature’ theme with talks from Professor Rajkumar, Dark and Mr Yusuf, to include consideration of those that supply the brain.
We hope to stimulate the latter with a Friday talk on the role of simulation in medical education by Professor Bradley and look to the future of nursing training as well as looking at telemedicine in podiatry practice from Professor Vernon. Anticipating these developments Professor Black and Dr Kelleher look to the future of UK Geriatrics Training from a South Coast vantage.
Demonstrating the breadth of analytical enquiry sixteen scientific platform presentations are embedded into the program so too is the much anticipated Trevor Howell Guest Lecture. As usual we remind those submitting abstracts to prepare early to ensure you have the best opportunity to gain peer acceptance.
With a high level of sponsorship interest in Brighton we are afforded the opportunity to attend additional symposia while also learning of new commercial developments in the main hall during poster viewing.
Innovations:
We have introduced some new themes such as ‘from our correspondent’ with perspectives on Europe from Professor Knight, India from Professor Banerjee and Taiwan from Professor Chen. Many members wish for updates from conferences they are unable to attend and so a ‘conference update’ session will feedback from ‘World Class Commissioning’ and the ‘European Calcified Tissues’ to name but two.
As the foundation of geriatrics practice is based on multidisciplinary working we are providing a warm welcome in the Friday programme to our many colleagues in adjacent specialties. Many of the Fridays topics are broad and the speakers primed to engage and facilitate learning across the professions. This is a real opportunity for you to personally invite your work based colleagues be they physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and or even social care specialists. A warm BGS welcome awaits, as does an agreeable day joining fee, so bring the team.
Video Box
This years finale consists of a series of short film based educational cases. Six presentations will be selected and judged on presentation and worth. Please submit a short film (in DVD format) having gained full consent for ‘professional education / scientific conference’ to reach us before the 1st August 2010. Case examples may include:
- An aspect of nursing practice
- Assessment scales in action
- A therapy achievement
- Wound treatment
- A difficult home visit
- A movement disorder and analysis
- A challenging diagnosis
- A new medical procedure. Each film should be shorter than 7 minutes and PowerPoint may be used to help convey the key learning points. The chair will then open your presentation to a short question and answer challenge before the top three are declared.
Beyond conference
Since a conference is not complete without social considerations we build on the success of the previous Brighton BGS run where we hope to broaden participation with just a two mile pier run. Please forward names to Joanna at BGS House so the Red Cross than be strategically positioned. Sadly the word ‘race’ is currently circulating given the competitive nature of some members. While those new to the BGS or to Brighton or to each other may wish to venture out on the first night with an unofficial ‘Tipple Tour’. An early to bed should see you ready for the 7:30am morning symposium. Alternatively you may wish to exercise your vocal cords by providing harmonising accompaniment to the presidential meal on Thursday 4th November. Joanna at BGS house is noting individual and group interest for the ‘Karaoke’.
Brighton is primed to provide you a comprehensive and warm welcome from Wednesday the 3rd of November to Friday the 5th 2010.
We look forward to welcoming you to the BGS Autumn Scientific Meeting in Brighton, including a multi-disciplinary day on Friday, 5 November. Invite your colleagues. 
