British Geriatrics Society

England Council

Minutes
Download MSWord file

Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd February 2006 at Marjory Warren House, 31 St John’s Square, London, EC1M 4DN

Present: Dr J Barrett (Chair), Dr S Conroy, Dr M Cottee, Dr I Donald, Dr D Forsyth, Dr S Khan, Dr S McCracken, Dr M Patel, Dr J Morris, Dr A Stanners, Dr P Wallis and Dr Walshe.

In attendance: Mr Mair and Miss S Reeder

EC06/01 Welcome and Apologies

Dr Barrett welcomed Dr Dominic Walshe who is the new Oxford representative, Dr Sarah McCracken who is a new trainee representative and Dr Andrew Stanners who is attending in place of Dr Penn.

Apologies were received from Dr Datta-Chaudhuri, Dr P MacDonald, Dr K McLean, Dr S Morgan, Dr M Thomas and Dr N Trepte.

EC06/02 Minutes of the meeting held on 20th October 2005

The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

EC06/03 Matters Arising

Vacancy for third nominated representative on UKMC
A vacancy has arisen for a member of the England Council to serve on the UKMC.
If anyone present wishes to be considered please see Mr Mair or Dr Barrett after the meeting.

Vacancy for an England representative on the Finance Committee
Dr Barrett reported that Dr Richard Day has been successfully chosen as an England representative on the Finance Committee.

Rehabilitation Bed Survey
Dr Barrett reported that from the response received 70% reported an alteration in their bed base from 1 April 2003-1 April 2006. There had been a small drop in the number of acute beds but the biggest change was in rehabilitation beds where over 1000 (15-20%) were lost. There has been no similar increase in the intermediate non-NHS beds. There has been a slight increase in Geriatricians in acute medicine and a very slight increase in community geriatricians. Most beds had been closed for financial reasons. The results have been presented to Ian Philp and his team who were surprised at the extent of the closures.

The Committee considered an integrated team of PCT, acute and social care which can go to the patient in the home of hospital. This if working effectively may keep patients out of hospital. There are pilots of this happening in Northumbria, Torbay and Birmingham organised by the Institute for Innovation and Health. Dr Patel reported that in Lewisham they have been having weekly team meetings of this nature for the last 3 years. It was decided that we should try to invite someone from the Institute to our next meeting.

Dignity
The second meeting or the working group took place this morning with representatives from the RCP, RCN, Help the Aged, Age Concern and the Continence Foundation.

The theme of the campaign will be “Dignity by Choice, Privacy by Right: Behind Closed Doors”.

The group is working on a set of minimum standards for patients in hospital and guidance for patients and their relatives on what they can expect when they are admitted. In particular the issues concerning those who are bed bound and the use of hoists.

They will be targeting the Trust CEO’s, Nursing staff, the public and their carers.

This is to be an issue on the NSF next steps but we hope to be organised before then.

Dr Forsyth suggested we may wish to look into a short information video as some hospitals have information on a continuous loop played via the patients bedside monitors.

EC06/04 Healthcare Commission

This item can be removed from the agenda now that the reporting has been concluded.

EC06/05 DOH Liaison

Meeting with Ian Philp

The last meeting was 26 January 2006.

Payment by results

The paper of recommendations finalised by the forum has been submitted to Ian Philp’s team.
We still need an author to write a piece on Coding for the newsletter. It was decided that we would approach Beverley Castleton to see if she can recommend someone.

The National Stroke Strategy ( Mini NSF)

The latest paper from the National Audit Office is essential reading. The Mini NSF is being produced by Roger Boyle. Ian Gibson has organised a conference for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke and 60-65 MP’s signed up. It was felt the BGS should be a partner in this.

EC06/06 Care Standards Commission

Dr Forsyth explained the background to why he was working on this paper and that he had hoped to have the final draft. Unfortunately CSCI do not appear happy with the final version and he is hoping to meet with them soon to address these issues. He is also working on obtaining the support of the Faculty of Old Age and the Royal College of Nursing.

Council asked if they could see again the final version and this will be circulated.

EC06/07 Staff and Associate Specialist Group

Dr Morgan had to send her apologies.

EC06/08 Issues for UKMC & RCP

UKMC Minutes

Relationship with the Pharmaceutical Industry
At the same time that concern was being raised within the Society of the role and influence the industry was having, the RCP (London) has reviewed its CPD criteria. In conjunction with Ian Taylor we have therefore agreed some points of good practice. There will be no more CPD for the satellite symposia and we will need to control the content. The CPD allowance will now be a maximum of 6 hours per day.

Young Doctors Education Grant
This will be publicised in the next Newsletter

CME Journal
The CME Journal has been published by RILA 3 times a year since 2003 in its present format. There have been concerns recently over the quality and CPD value. At present it is not of a sufficient standard for RCP accreditation. We do need a paper form of CPD to comply with the Federation of Colleges requirements. If we do not use this Journal we must find another. The lead article is commissioned by the BGS with an honorarium. The rest are volunteered articles. Dr Ian Taylor has e-mailed all the regions asking for a CME representative to source articles and so far only Wessex has replied. The present editor Dr Forsyth met with RILA this morning to discuss changing the format and content and ways of making it available to all members. They have agreed to send him some proposals which he will present to UKMC.

UK Study Day
Dr Beaumont is looking into the possibility of a study day. Council wondered if a session at the Scientific meeting would be useful, then members would not need an extra day off. Topics and speakers would need to be organised in advance to stimulate the debate.

Business Plan

There were no amendments.

EC06/09 Business from Any Region In England

Clinic Profile Guidelines

Dr Forsyth has been approached by a member of his region regarding the amount of time the RCP recommends for new patients and review patients. Whilst clinic slots around the room varied it was felt that the RCP guidelines could be improved and Dr Forsyth agreed to draft a paper that covered geriatric clinics.

RCGP Conference
Dr Donald reported that he and Prof Gladman have met with the RCGP who are holding a conference on 5 June and are keen to involve the RCP and the Society.

EC06/10 Dates of future meetings:

All meetings are held at Marjory Warren House commencing at 14.00.

7 June 2006- NB Change of date due to BGS/RCP Geriatric Medicine Conference
26 October 2006