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Minutes
The minutes of the previous AGM were accepted.
- Matters arising
None.
- Election of Officers
Colin Ferrie stated that Mike Pike and Penny Fallon had been elected unopposed to the posts of President (commencing as President Elect after the AGM) and Treasurer (commencing April 2005) respectively.
- President's Report (Colin Kennedy)
- Clinical Excellence Awards
An article in the autumn newsletter by Richard Newton explained the system whereby the BPNA makes recommendations for Clinical Excellence Awards (Bronze and above). All Deanery Advisers to compile email lists of consultants in their 'region' in order that they can be contacted appropriately in future years.
- Consultant Appointments
The BPNA has been attempting to help resolve the issue of 'single handed' consultants in Paediatric Neurology in certain services in London. It is hoped that further appointments will be made to increase the consultant staff at the Royal London Hospital and in North West London. Agreement had been reached for the appointment of two more consultants in Paediatric Neurology in Leicester.
- National Grid
There are still some problems in the operation of the National Grid. He outlined the substance of correspondence between himself and the RCPCH regarding the status of adult neurology training in the Neurology National Grid. The RCPCH, whilst recognising that 6 months of adult neurology training is required to obtain a CCST in paediatric neurology, is maintaining that this is an OOPE (out of programme activity). Despite dialogue on this issue, the situation has not been resolved satisfactorily. The RCPCH is also taking a restrictive line regarding the time window within which trainees can apply to the National Grid.
- Organisation of the Annual Meeting
Guidance notes to assist the local organisers of the Annual Meeting have been produced and will soon be placed on the website. Considerable autonomy remains with the local organisers.
- Mac Keith Prize
In recent years, the process of awarding of the prize has not been widely understood. The steps are: (i) applications to be invited in the spring newsletter with an appropriate closing date. (ii) A proposer writes a letter proposing and making a case for the candidate to be considered. (iii) This letter should be accompanied by three papers and up to two reserve papers, along with a statement of what their involvement in each has been and a brief CV. (iv) An ad hoc committee to be appointed by the executive committee to judge the award. (v) The final decision to be arrived at in the autumn, preferably in September to give the successful candidate time to prepare.
- Europe
The Board of the EPNS is up for election later this year. CK asked members to consider submitting their names for consideration.
- Deanery Advisers' Packs
Council have agreed that the Deanery Advisers' Pack will be updated every three years by the National Training Adviser towards the end of their elected term of office.
- Secretariat
Philippa Rodie has done a magnificent job as the secretariat and her role has greatly expanded. She has expressed a desire to be on a contract and this is supported by the Executive and Council. The Treasurer is responsible for working out the details.
- The Brain Centre
The Association of British Neurologists, the British Association of Neurosurgeons and the Brain & Spine Foundation are leading on the development of 'The Brain Centre'. The BPNA is registered as a stakeholder. This does not imply any financial risk. It is envisaged that the Centre will be in London and will include the offices of the principle participants, a neurological library, other neurological resources, a help line, etc. Office space will be available and the BPNA could rent this at a non-commercial rate.
- Advisory Appointment Committees for Consultant Paediatric Neurology posts
A list of those suitable to serve on the above has been sent to the RCPCH.
- Visits to Training Centres
Details of the visits process would be given by Richard Newton. Currently the RCPCH is not providing training for visitors while awaiting guidance from PMETB which is due to take over responsibility for this process from the STA in the autumn of 2005. It is expected that visiting teams may need to include lay representation.
The following questions were put to the President:
- Richard Robinson asked if we were maintaining links with other Neuroscience organisations. CK informed him that we continue to be represented at meetings of the Joint Neurosciences Council. We maintain links with the Paediatric Neurosurgical Society, although there has not been a perceived recent need for representatives to attend reciprocal meetings.
- CK was asked if central funding was ever likely to be available for subspecialty SpRs. CK felt probably not. Discussions needed to take place locally between Deanery Advisers and Regional Advisers in Paediatrics. Our annual manpower surveys should greatly assist such local negotiations. If problems arose which could not be resolved satisfactorily, the BPNA would take this up with the College.
- Immediate Past President's Report (Richard Newton)
- Visits to training centres
Once the Scottish training centres are visited, all training centres will have been visited. He acknowledged that the visits are very time intensive for all involved but standard documentation that meets the needs of the RCPCH and available on the website, simplifies the process. RN noted that neurodisability now has its own CSAC and it was hoped that training centre visits for Neurology and Neurodisability might be able to be combined. The responsibility for organising the visits to training centres will now pass to Mike Pike.
- Distance Learning Course
The course had received excellent feedback. The set up cost had been around £50K but the course is now self-financing. He expressed his particular thanks to Deborah Murdoch-Eaton and Philippa Rodie. The supervisor is required to appraise students after each unit. This should lead to the student being awarded a certificate indicating satisfactory completion of the course.
Generally it is expected that students should complete the course in two years but it can be followed at a slower pace if appropriate. Once the course has run a full cycle it is planned to make individual units available to consultants for CPD.
19 students have registered to start the course this time. Entry requirements include the need to have access to suitable clinical material and a supervisor. RN reported that Prof Brouwer from Holland, representing the Education & Training Committee of the EPNS, was at the meeting observing how the course is run.
- Epilepsy Networks
A bid to the Health Care Foundation to help develop a national website, the Paediatric Epilepsy Training (PET) Courses and local networks had failed. However, partnerships had been formed with the RCPCH, Epilepsy Bereaved, The Epilepsy Research Foundation, Epilepsy Action and other societies in the voluntary sector and it is hoped to pursue the plan by obtaining funding from elsewhere.
- Paediatric Epilepsy Training Courses
RN, Helen Cross and Colin Ferrie outlined the structure of the planned PET courses. Broadly speaking PET 1 is being designed to support the non-specialist, PET 2 to support the paediatrician with special expertise in epilepsy and PET 3 to support paediatric neurologists with responsibility for providing tertiary epilepsy services. It is hoped to run the first PET 1 and PET 2 courses later this year.
CK thanked RN for his enormous contribution and hoped that he could be persuaded to be co-opted onto council with respect to the distance learning project.
- Secretary's Report (Colin Ferrie)
- Newsletters
The spring and autumn newsletters had been published as planned. He invited submissions for the spring 2005 newsletter.
- Elections and other Council posts
One post on Council is up for election this year (2005). This is the post of National Training Adviser (currently Rob Forsyth). Formal notification will be given in the spring newsletter according to the constitution. He also noted that the current trainee representative (Sophia Varadkar), a co-opted post, would become vacant. The trainees meeting is asked to arrange a replacement subject to ratification. Sameer Zuberi has agreed to take over from Chris Rittey as organiser of the Neurology input to the RCPCH Annual Meeting in York. He will be co-opted onto Council. Finally, the terms of the following Deanery Adviser posts will be completed this year: Yorkshire (John Livingston); Southwest (Phil Jardine); North Thames (Sarah Benton); South Thames (Keith Pohl); Oxford (Tony McShane). The outgoing adviser is asked to arrange a replacement and notify the Secretary.
- NICE
Two NICE guidelines to which the BPNA had contributed were published in 2004. These were on the use of the newer antiepileptic drugs in children and on the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in primary and secondary care. We are registered as a stakeholder on two further guidelines being produced. These cover the use of methylphenidate in children with ADHD and on childhood cancer. Val Harpin is representing the BPNAs view on the former. The latter appears to be mainly dealing with issues not directly related to the work of the BPNA and we are not playing a prominent role in its development.
- BPNA Archives
Apart from the accounts, BPNA archives were now being kept electronically rather than in paper form. Each year an electronic archive of important documents will be prepared by the Secretary and separate copies kept by the Secretary and the Secretariat. Members can request a copy of the archive from either.
- Assistant Secretaries Report (Robert McWilliam)
There are currently 317 members of all categories. A list of 23 new applicants (including one for overseas membership), which had been reviewed by the executive committee and council, were put up for approval. All were approved by the AGM.
The principal findings of the 2004 Manpower survey were:
- Continuing expansion in Consultant Paediatric Neurology posts, but at a somewhat slower rate than envisaged in 'Matching Manpower and Training'.
- A further reduction in the number of academic sessions in Paediatric Neurology at consultant level.
- Over the next 4 years 30 SpRs will obtain CCSTs in Paediatric Neurology. 16 vacancies are anticipated in the same period and there are currently 6 unfilled posts. However, the full effects of the new consultant contracts and the European Working Time Directive are still to be fully realised. In particular the average number of PAs being paid for under the new contract is 12. If this is reduced to 10, it would imply a 20% expansion in consultant numbers. This along with an apparent move to more part time working and the effects of not all CCST holders taking up consultant appointments in the UK mean that the supply of those completing their training and applying for senior posts was likely to be in balance with the demand for such applicants.
On the basis of the Manpower figures the BPNA had recommended that 8 new National Grid posts should be appointed this spring. Only 6 centres have put forward posts.
- National Training Advisor's Report (Robert Forsyth)
- National Grid
Six training centres have put forward posts for the National Grid this year. Interviews will be held this March.
- Penultimate Year Assessments (PYAs) for SpRs.
The system of PYAs appears to be helpful for the trainees. RF reported that he is working to try and ensure that points raised at the PYAs are made available (anonymously) to those conducting Training Centre visits.
- Competency documents for training attachments in Child Psychiatry and Adult Neurology.
- RF he had been working over the preceding twelve months to produce these in consultation with and approval from the RCPsych and the ABN. Their format corresponds to that being used by the RCPCH for competencies in Paediatrics. The documents have now been approved by Council and will shortly be placed on the website. Members are encouraged to use them.
- Treasurers Report (Helen Cross)
The accounts of the Association have been audited and approved. Income and expenditure over the past 3 years showed that, although the BPNA currently runs a surplus, this is because over the last few years the Annual Meeting has attracted considerable sponsorship. If this is disregarded the Association continues to run a deficit of approximately £8K per year. (£11K from subscriptions – £19K outgoings). Council took the view that the Association should avoid being dependant on sponsorship. If the fees (excluding the component for Developmental Medicine Child Neurology paid to MacKeith Press) were increased to £47 per year the Association will continue to run an annual deficit of around 5K. An increase to £57 per year will equate to a deficit of around 3K, whilst an increase to £67 will lead to a breakeven situation. Following discussion, increase to £57 per year (subject to review next year) was approved by a show of hands that was unanimously in favour save one.
Council had discussed how sponsorship money obtained in connection with the Annual Meeting should be used. Council proposed that some of the money obtained from sponsorship of the Annual Meeting could be used to subsidise the meeting (possibly concentrating on trainees) at the discretion of the local organisers, whilst any surplus should be placed in an educational fund account. This money would then be available to support educational initiatives of the BPNA. This policy was agreed by the AGM.
CK thanked HC for her sterling work through two terms of office as Treasurer.
- Report of the Convenor of the Governance & Audit Committee (William Whitehouse)
The Governance & Audit Committee has now been formed. Progress is being made concerning the establishment of a BPNA surveillance unit (BPNASU). More details of these developments will appear in the spring newsletter.
- Disability (Alison Salt on behalf of Jane Williams)
16 training programmes had been provisionally approved by the Neurodisability CSAC and that a model job description for Neurodisability National Grid training places was being developed. She also indicated that it was anticipated that joint visits from the Neurology and Neurodisability CSACs to training centres would take place.
- Child Psychiatry
No report. Apologies were received from Dr Mary Eminson whose attendance at Council in the morning had been greatly appreciated.
- Trainees' Report (Sophia Varadkar)
The annual trainees meeting in Leeds had been a success. The Council of the BPNA has once again agreed that the BPNA will underwrite next year's meeting. However, sponsorship is being sought and it is anticipated that it will be self-financing.
Trainees were very positive about the Distance Learning Course.
SV has completed her term of office and the Trainees meeting will propose to Council a replacement. CK expressed thanks for her energetic and invaluable contribution.
- Mac Keith Press (Peter Baxter)
The impact factor for Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology remained above 2, also above that of Archives of Disease in Childhood and, in terms of Paediatric Neurology journals, second only to a journal that only publishes review articles rather than original research.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology was now using electronic submission. The turn around time has been substantially reduced. Around 30% of articles received come from the UK, 30% from Europe and 30% from North America. Articles are now free electronically 12 months after publication, and there is a proposal to make all back copies available electronically. There is also a move to encourage shorter articles in order to increase the number of research articles published.
Mac Keith Press is expanding its publication of books. This includes a new 'handbook' series.
The BPNA has 2 places on the editorial board of Mac Keith Press. Imelda Hughes has completed her term and is being replaced by Robert Forsyth. He will join JP Lin.
- Meetings
- Bristol (18-20 January 2006)
Phil Jardine reported that this will be held in a high quality venue in the centre of Bristol and that there will be a choice of hotels at different prices.
- Edinburgh (Jan 2007)
Paul Eunson reported that he is co-ordinating the plans for this.
- The AGM confirmed that the 2008 meeting would be in Leeds.
- Birmingham offered to host the meeting in 2009.
- Any Other Business
Frank Besag noted that behavioural aspects of Paediatric Neurology had traditionally been well covered at the Annual Meeting of the BPNA but felt that its profile was not as high as it had been.
Christopher Verity stressed the importance the RCPCH placed on the importance of having high quality subspecialty involvement at the York meeting.
- Next AGM
Bristol, Thursday 19 January 2006.
Colin Ferrie, BPNA Secretary