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.

News

14
Nov
2022

BGS President responds to Daily Mail article ‘Hospitals harm the elderly’

On 13th November 2022, The Daily Mail published an article raising concerns about the safety of older people being admitted to emergency departments this winter.
01
Sep
2022

BGS publishes new report examining workforce data

The BGS has published a report examining data collected by the RCP on the consultant and Higher Specialty Trainee geriatric medicine workforce.
01
Aug
2022

Dr Jugdeep Dhesi announced as BGS President Elect

The BGS is delighted to announce that, following a vote by a record number of members, Dr Jugdeep Dhesi will be its new President Elect.
13
Jul
2022

Working together to understand kidney disease in older people

The British Geriatrics Society and the European Renal Association have collaborated to produce a collection of articles from across their journals on the topic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in ol
01
Jul
2022

Age and Ageing Journal now highest ranked journal in the Geriatrics & Gerontology category

Age and Ageing, the scientific journal of the British Geriatrics Society, is now the most highly ranked journal (out of 54) in the ‘geriatrics and gerontology’ category, with an increased

27
Jun
2022

Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, 1935-2022

All at the BGS were very sad to hear last week of the death of Baroness Sally Greengross.
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Resources

Members only
11
Sep
2023
Newsletters
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AGENDA: Issue 90 | Workforce

As the population of older people increases, so too does the need for healthcare professionals who are trained to provide high-quality care to these complex individuals. This issue explores some of the challenges and solutions to the workforce crisis. This content is limited to members only.
Report
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Reablement, Rehabilitation, Recovery: Chapter two - Purpose and context

This chapter provides an overview of rehabilitation as a beneficial intervention for many older people living with frailty, and the current situation across the four nations of the UK.
30
Nov
2023
Position statement
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BGS responses to external consultations

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.

Scottish Care of Older People (SCoOP) Project

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.
02
Nov
2020

#BGSFairCare: Our letters to Ministers

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.
Members only
05
Dec
2019
Presentation

Presentation slides: BGS Scotland Autumn Meeting 2019

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

27
Dec
2022

Avoiding hospital associated harm for older people this winter

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.
07
Dec
2022

The REDUCE Study: improving outcomes after hip fracture

Multiple hospital organisational factors are associated with adverse patient outcomes post hip fracture in England and Wales: the REDUCE record-linkage cohort study.
15
Nov
2022

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

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.
02
Nov
2022

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

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.
31
Oct
2022

What can we do to improve healthcare support for adults living in care homes in Scotland?

In case you missed it, June of this year saw the publication of ‘My Health, My Care, My Home – healthcare framework for adults living in care homes’. The framework was developed by Scottish Government working with care providers and representative bodies, health and social care practitioners, Health and Social Care Partnerships, policymakers and families and friends.
26
Oct
2022

Back to the Future? Public Health and Politics

I recently had a very nice weekend away in Haworth, West Yorkshire. The literary aficionados among us will instantly be familiar with this, as it was the home of the Bronte sisters of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall fame.
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Policy Updates

07
Mar
2018

National Audit Office report on reducing emergency admissions
01
Mar
2018

BGS response to the consultation on the regulation of medical associate professions in the UK

The British Geriatrics Society response to the Department of Health’s consultation on the regulation of medical associate professions in the UK and the positive recognition of the medical associate role that it represents.

elearning

Continence in Older People: elearning

An in-depth course on bladder and bowel health

Oncogeriatrics elearning

This elearning course begins with an overview of oncology and then focuses on geriatric oncology 'oncogeriatrics'. The course then focuses on patient assessment, including CGA, and prepares you for the final module, which considers the cancer patient journey. It is suitable for a range of healthcare professionals.

Delirium in Older People

This elearning course seeks to improve understanding of the types and causes of delirium, with a focus on easy to use tests. It also covers how to intervene to improve patient outcomes. It is suitable for all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Frailty - Identification and Interventions

This free frailty elearning course has been revised and updated by expert geriatric medicine clinicians, with insights from health and social care and the voluntary sector. Learners will understand frailty, how to identify those living with frailty and how to intervene to improve outcomes. The course is suitable for learners with Tier 3 capabilities and skills.
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Prizes

The Kate Johnston Prize is awarded for the best presentation by a non-consultant grade member at the BGS Scotland autumn Scientific Meeting and The Taylor Brown Prize is awarded for the best presentation by a non-consultant at the BGS Scotland spring Scientific Meeting.

BGS Scotland also offers the Ferguson Anderson Prize in Geriatric Medicine: Three essay prizes (£300, £200, and £100) are offered to individual medical students studying at Scottish Universities. Many students are now involved in special study modules or elective projects relating to older patients. These may provide the basis for a submission. The essay can cover any topic relating to ageing or care of older people and must not exceed 2500 words, excluding references.