The President opened the AGM by expressing our regret and condolences at the death of Professor Roger Robinson. Professor Robinson made enormous contributions to Paediatric Neurology. We had asked permission of his widow to remember him at the AGM.
He also reported that Dr Gordon was unable to attend the AGM following injuries received in a road traffic accident and expressed the Association's good wishes for his recovery.
Finally, he highlighted Martin Bax's retirement with the sincere thanks of the Association for his work and recognition of the big contribution he has made to British and International Paediatric Neurology.
Amended minutes will be posted on the website, but will not be circulated in a paper form.
Election of Officers
Dr Kennedy will assume the presidency following the AGM. Dr Ferrie was elected unopposed to the position of Secretary. There was a paper vote for the position of Assistant Secretary. Dr Robert McWilliam was elected with 32 votes. Dr Phil Jardine received 19 votes.
Clinical Networks
The Epilepsy Interest Group has proposed a course in epilepsy with three tiers involving general paediatricians and epilepsy nurses, specialist paediatricians and paediatric neurologists respectively. This will be delivered at different centres. Items will include service provision, guidance for service provision, underwriting the quality and costings. It is hoped that this work will enhance networking in other fields. It is hoped that the change in Council to become more representative will aid a more uniform and unified clinical practice nationally. It is intended that audits can be carried out, with selected centres asked to audit specific aspects of practice.
There were no questions on this section.
Distance Learning Courses
The President went on to say that the Distance Learning Course had been launched on 22 January. The material is first class. He thanked all the authors. The mechanism for certification, which depends on appraisal, still has to be finalised.
Professor Besag asked whether trainees in fields other than neurology could take the Course. At present the Course is restricted to neurology trainees with an access to a supervisor, but may be of value to others, including established consultants, in future. The steering group will be looking at ways of opening the course more widely.
Role of the Deanery Advisers
Dr Newton emphasised the importance of the role of Deanery Advisers. He highlighted the need for them to monitor governance and audit in their region.
Service Planning
The President reminded the Association of the importance of service planning and the need for every member present to develop a plan for new posts if we were to achieve our aim of doubling the number of Paediatric Neurologists by 2010. Making a case has become more complex with the need to involve the Strategic Health Authority and PCT's and to define need by data on workload, waiting lists etc. Notes have been published in the spring newsletter and placed on the website. Informal advice is also available to individual members who are advised to contact the BPNA Secretariat initially.
Secretariat
Dr Newton expressed the Association's thanks to Mrs Philippa Rodie for her very efficient work on behalf of the BPNA and particularly in organising the annual conference.
Leicester
Finally, he reported the Review of the Leicester Review commissioned by the previous Regional Health Authority, whose criticisms had not included the BPNA. He thanked all those who had helped in the original Review.
Dr Lin asked in relation to training whether there was a process to inform each Deanery of the numbers of trainees needed. This is a particular concern when varying numbers meant that the training programme could not be established or maintained efficiently. Dr Kennedy replied that there was no Deanery specific information but the manpower document is updated by the Assistant Secretary annually. At present Deaneries plan the posts. Professor Neville reported that there were problems with the training post in North Thames and that monitoring would help. Dr Kennedy undertook to try to help. Dr Ferrie pointed out that there was now a reduced number of training posts in North Thames compared to last year. Dr Kennedy reported that there had been a meeting to discuss this especially in view of the threat by the Deanery to change neurology training posts to neurodisability training posts.
Dr Green pointed out that the visits had always included neurodisability training assessments. Now there is a Neurodisability CSAC it would be important to look at the neurology training of trainees in disability. Dr Kennedy replied that it was difficult to comment until the Neurodisability CSAC is running. Dr Ramesh asked how to match trainee numbers. Dr Kennedy replied that there will be a need to lobby and that if problems cannot be resolved locally, to refer nationally. Dr Newton pointed out that one very important role for the Deanery Adviser is to establish positive links with the regional Paediatric Adviser and the lead for local training, whose title varies in different areas, to help maintain posts in paediatric neurology.
Europe
Dr Kennedy drew attention to his report in the autumn newsletter. He highlighted the courses for trainees, run by the EPNS and set up by Professor Neville. He also reminded us that paediatric neurology is a European subspecialty.
He presented the list of proposed new members. All except one without a CV or seconder were welcomed to the Association. Dr Lin asked if new member's names would be published in the newsletter. This will be discussed with the editor of the newsletter. They will be placed on the website.
He then presented the Manpower Document. It is proposed that this should be put on the website with restricted access to members of the Association through a password protected area. He highlighted the increase in consultant numbers from 50 to 56 full time posts and the decrease in academic posts from 13 to 11. Overall, the number of full time equivalents has increased by just over 5 to 62.9. He also highlighted at present new posts and retirements appear to total 4 per year but that 7 will be needed to achieve the goal of 120 posts by 2010. In addition, over the next 4 years, 7.3 SPR's are anticipated to gain their CCSTs annually but it is difficult to allow for the effect of possible part time working on the balance of available posts and trainees who have completed their CCST. At present there are still unfilled posts. Dr Sharples asked if neurology wanted more national training numbers, were they available. Dr Ferrie replied that there was no need at present for new posts. At the last National Grid 9 posts have been anticipated but only 7 centres had posts available.
Dr Ferrie also produced data on outreach clinics describing an increase in the total number but due to an apparent increase in numbers of districts, the proportion remained the same at approximately 75%. Currently there are named leads for epilepsy in 30% of districts and for neurodisability in 25% of districts.
Assessment of Trainees / RITA
The penultimate year assessment was held for the first time last year and effectively was equivalent to an external RITA. It was well received by trainees.
Dr Cowan asked about sub-speciality training posts. These are under discussion, but the issues have not been resolved and these may have to be post CCST posts.
Dr Kirkham reported on guidelines in progress including the NICE guidelines on epilepsy and Stroke guidelines under the aegis of the Royal College of Physicians. She listed the guidelines for dealing with acute neurological conditions including status guidelines and ones in development including non-traumatic coma and meningitis. For the latter she has amalgamated guidelines currently available from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Southampton and District General Hospitals, particularly an excellent one from Wakefield. She has pooled these and added a systematic review. It is intended the guidelines will be placed on the BPNA website for discussion. It is also suggested that GOSH guidelines for other conditions could be put on the website but these will not have been endorsed as they will not have gone through a governance process. All guidelines are still evolving and will need continual updating.
BPNA 2005
The next annual meeting will be in London hosted by Great Ormond Street from
19-21 January 2005.
BPNA 2006
Bristol will host the meeting in 2006.
BPNA 2007
Edinburgh will host the meeting in 2007.
Birmingham, Nottingham and Leeds all expressed interest in hosting the 2008 meeting.
Dr Newton closed the meeting by thanking members of the Association, the Council and the Executive. He passed on his best wishes to Professor Richard Robinson, Past President, on his retirement and to Dr Colin Kennedy on his assumption of the presidency.
Professor Robinson proposed thanks to Dr Newton at the end of his three-year Presidency. He highlighted the enormous contribution he has made, the large amount of work that he has put in on behalf of the BPNA, and the adroit way on the BPNA's behalf that he has handled the difficult issues that have arisen.