Celebrate
I’m still listening out for your ideas and suggestions. Honest!
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the PCR Society. As a relative newcomer of 5 years I have witnessed the Society’s increasing influence and reputation. But what can we do to not only maintain our established reputation, but to build on it? I believe it is important that the direction pursued by the PCR as we approach our 20th anniversary should reflect broadly the aspirations and desires of the majority who pay their dues every year and make their way to the symposium. To that end I am “all ears”.
Communicate
Thank you to all of you who took time to feed back after the 2005 symposium. The feedback was generally positive, and I think the move to fewer but more detailed workshops was largely welcomed. It seems as though the workshops and presentations on imaging were of interest and hopefully some value. There are a number of recurring topics which keep coming up (OA, osteoporosis etc) and whilst I think it is important that these primary care topics are covered in some shape or form, perhaps we need to think of new ways of presenting them. There are a few ideas for this years symposium, which will again be held in the Moat House in York on the 5th-7th October (yes, October) so get the dates into your diary. We have already formulated a programme but if you feel strongly that something should or shouldn’t be included now is the time to let us know. It would be good to do something a bit different to celebrate this important anniversary.
I had hoped to try to re-launch the bulletin board on the web site and to use this as a means of communication and education sharing, but regrettably there hasn’t been much progress on this front. I would be keen to hear from anyone who thinks they could move this forward.
Helen has reminded me that communication between the office and the membership would be much easier if we were able to maintain an up to date database of e-mail addresses. If you have e-mail this is the quickest and cheapest way to disseminate information. From our entire mailing list we have 600 active e-mail addresses, 144 out of date, and 3077 with no email details at all. If you have a valid e-mail address, and you haven’t received e-mails from us recently, perhaps you could e-mail it to Helen at the address above putting your name in the subject heading of the e-mail.
It is also very important that you let us know if you no longer wish to receive mailings from the PCR.
Collaborate
Last year we mentioned the increasing opportunities for collaboration with other colleagues, especially in the British Society of Rheumatology. We continue to maintain close contact particularly through our involvement as a member organisation of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA), which affords us opportunity to keep in contact with other professional and user groups. We continue to maintain representation with the BSR, RCGP and various committees on ARMA.
You all know how keen I was to get you all over to Ireland. Well I aint giving up on that idea yet. There may yet be an opportunity for a PCR contingent to attend a joint meeting in Dublin. I have had opportunity to meet with the President Elect of the Irish Society for Rheumatology, who plans to host a joint meeting of the British Society of Rheumatology, the Irish Society of Allied Health Professionals and the Irish Society of Rheumatology in September of this year. There may be a role for the PCR to be involved, or at least attend, this meeting. I have written formally and was holding off with this newsletter in the hope of a prompt reply, but so far there has been no official response. I will continue to explore this opportunity. Watch this space.
Educate
My biggest concern over the past year has been to try and avoid being overwhelmed by the political developments and agendas that we legitimately need to be involved in, and to ensure that, whilst making sure our voice is heard in the fast changing landscape of service reform and development, that we don’t lose sight of the needs of the members. I am still not sure that we are succeeding in this. We felt that we had to some extent been diverted away from a supportive and educational role in the last few years, and in an attempt to redress this, Adam Bajkowski, assisted by Stephanie Hitchcock and Louise Warburton have formed an educational sub-committee to oversee this aspect of activity and ensure that it is not neglected.
The development of the role of the Musculoskeletal GPSI continues to hold our attention. There have been a lot of developments here in Northern Ireland which have kept me pretty busy. Many of our local Health Boards (PCTs) are developing a strategy based on Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Centres (ICATs) which will be populated mainly by GPSIs and other extended scope nurses and HPs. Interestingly rheumatology was seen as “non core” priority. Regardless of the failure of local policy makers to recognise the requirement for higher standards of services to people with arthritis, the PCR will continue to support and assist in the development of the GPSI role.
A further GPSI conference is planned for the 23rd/24th May 2006 at Weetwood Hall in Leeds.
The meeting will cover:
1) Musculo-skeletal problems in Childhood
2) Continuing professional development Appraisal & Revalidation for GPwSIs.
Once again it is fully funded by the ARC (refundable deposit required) and application forms are available from the PCR office.
Propagate
An Ulsterman has to be careful when talking about loyalty lest he be accused of bigotry, but it is good to see loyal faces return year after year to the annual meeting, and again the core of people who lead workshops and give up their time in preparation are to be valued and applauded. Nevertheless there don’t seem to be that many new faces. Perhaps for this 20th anniversary year we should run an “introduce a friend” scheme to encourage members to get other colleagues to come along to the symposium, or get involved in the society in some other way. I don’t think numerical growth can do any harm, and a bit of new blood would be welcome. I expect there are a number of members who rarely get along to the symposium or any of the other meetings. Why not make a bit of an extra effort to try to get along this year? If you haven’t been before I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Stimulate
I hope these few comments will encourage you all the get your oar in and become more involved with the PCR. There is a great deal that we could be doing, but we need people who are prepared to dedicate a bit of their own time. I know that time is a scarce resource for most if us, but I do hope that these thoughts will stimulate a few ideas. If there is anything you think we should be considering either for the symposium of in more general terms, send your ideas to Helen and she will pass them on to the steering committee.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the symposium and hearing your ideas before then.
Garth Logan
President
Don’t forget:
• GPSI Meeting, Weetwood Hall – 23/24th May 2006
• PCR Conference, Moat House Hotel – 5-7th October 2006
• Inform us of your e-mail address and/or changes
• Please renew Membership!!!