BGS Scotland

The British Geriatrics Society Scotland (BGS Scotland) is a multi-disciplinary professional membership association that promotes better health and care for older people. Its membership includes the vast majority of specialist health professionals who shape and delivery healthcare to older people in Scotland. The full Council and Board representatives may be found here.

We believe that care should:

  • promote independence, and allow older people to live the lives they choose and be fully involved in their care and treatment plans, including at the end of life;
  • be holistic and person centred;
  • be evidence-based and focused on outcomes, not outputs;
  • be based on a full and complete assessment and diagnosis;
  • be compassionate and caring;
  • be based on need, not age, and promote fair and equal treatment for older people;
  • be multidisciplinary, regardless of setting, and integrate the services of health, social and community care professionals to provide a seamless service.
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Resources

Many of the resources developed by the BGS, or resources developed by other agencies, but publicised by the BGS, are relevant to all the devolved nations of the UK.

BGS responses to external consultations

25 Apr 2023

The BGS regularly responds to  external consultations by the UK government and those of the devolved nations that relate to older people's health, social care and wider issues, such as workforce. On this page you can find copies of our responses to recent consultations.

Position statement

Scottish Care of Older People (SCoOP) Project

20 Jan 2021

Scottish Care of Older People (SCoOP) is a Scottish national evaluation project focusing on care of older people across Scotland in both primary and secondary care settings.

#BGSFairCare: Our letters to Ministers

02 Nov 2020

Read our letters to the Health Ministers in each of the four nations of the UK asking them to take urgent action to protect older people during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presentation slides: BGS Scotland Autumn Meeting 2019

05 Dec 2019

The BGS Scotland Autumn Meeting 2019 was held on 21-22 November in Dumfries. 

Members only
In a series
Presentation
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Events

2023 Improving Continence in Older People

Live 15 September 2023 On demand to 15 September 2024
ONLINE

This online meeting will focus on providing comprehensive, up-to-date information and practical tips from leading international experts in the field.

Virtual Meeting

2023 Wales Autumn Meeting

Live 21 - 22 September 2023 On demand to 22 September 2024
Swansea

BGS Wales Autumn meeting with sessions for Trainees and Trainers as well as educational sessions.

Nation Meeting

2023 24th International Conference on Falls and Postural Stability

Live 29 September 2023 On Demand until 29 September 2024
Newcastle

This 1 day event is intended for clinicians and healthcare professionals working with older people in acute and community settings around falls prevention and treatment.

SIG Meeting

2023 Scotland Autumn Meeting

Live 6 October 2023 On demand to 6 October 2024
Glasgow

This event is a national Scottish forum covering the latest scientific research and the best clinical practice in care of older people. This meeting will cover core areas of interest to all specialists responsible for the health care of older people and is open to attendees from near and far.

Nation Meeting
See all our events
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News

New BGS report exposes continuing shortage of geriatricians

The BGS has published a new report, ‘The state of the consultant geriatrician workforce’. The report analyses data from the most recent UK census of consultant physicians conducted by the Royal College of Physicians London on behalf of the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. The BGS brings the data on consultant geriatricians up to date and explores the potential impact on healthcare for older people.

22 February 2024
Read more
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Blogs

The BGS welcomes blogs on any number of topics of interest to geriatricians, nurses, therapists and other professionals concerned with the health of older people.

Avoiding hospital associated harm for older people this winter

27 Dec 2022

As we pass the winter solstice and the days start to lengthen, it feels hard to believe we will ever leave ‘winter’ in the NHS. Back-to-back ‘crises’ for health and social care, a perfect storm of a continuing pandemic/pandemic recovery, a chronically under-funded and under-staffed health service and social care sector and a cost of living crisis mean that our patients are going to struggle even more than usual this winter.

Blog

The REDUCE Study: improving outcomes after hip fracture

07 Dec 2022

Multiple hospital organisational factors are associated with adverse patient outcomes post hip fracture in England and Wales: the REDUCE record-linkage cohort study.

Blog

Is Advanced Clinical Practice one of the solutions to workforce shortages in older people’s healthcare?

15 Nov 2022

We should never lose sight that most older people live well in older age. However, we are also very familiar with the challenge of a population that is ageing with all the risks associated with co-morbidities and complex health and social care issues.

Blog

Dying of ‘Old age’ – A lesson from the Queen

02 Nov 2022

Our beloved Queen Elizabeth II recently died of ‘old age’, surrounded by her family. She was very fortunate not to endure spending her last few weeks in hospital or institutional care, which is often the case for a lot of older people. Their journey frequently starts in an ambulance waiting outside a hospital, followed by lingering for hours on a trolley in the emergency department before being admitted to a ward.

Blog
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