British Geriatrics Society Scientific meeting: Day 2

This week sees the 2013 BGS Autumn Scientific Meeting take place in Harrogate. This international multi-disciplinary conference is for professionals concerned with the the health and care of older people. We will be presenting a packed scientific programme, with updates on a variety of clinical topics covering several special interests.

The second day of our conference opens at 9.00 with the President’s Welcome Address, followed by an update on the BGS response to the Francis Report.

Session G (9.20-10.30) is dedicated to Syncope beginning with Prof Roseanne Kenny (Trinity College Dublin) on the assessment of the older patient with syncope, followed by Dr Michael Norton (South of Tyne and Wear) who will be discussing when a cardiologist should see an older patient with syncope?

From 10.30-11.45 we will break for coffee and for the posters and exhibition.

The following parallel sessions will run from 11.45-13.00:

• Session H: Mechanisms of disease: Prof Paul Ince (University of Sheffield) speaking on neurodegenerative versus vascular pathologies and dementia in older people. And Dr Deborah Dunn-Walters (Kings College) who will present on Immunobiology and finishes with a plaform presentation from Dr Clare MacDonald (Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle) on her submitted abstract: Masked Hypertension is common and is associated with significant mortality.
• Session I: What has the BGS ever done for me? Updates from Marjory Warren House: Begins with a platform presentation from Katie Sheehan  (Trinity College Dublin) of her poster Central adiposity is an Independent predictor for the development of frailty in community dwelling older adults. This is followed by updates on Frailsafe, Commissioning for Care Homes, Educating doctors fit for the future and a summary of recent changes at Marjory Warren House.
• Session J: Integrated Care: Begins with Dr Simon Conroy (Leicester) on cross specialty care, followed by Prof Margot Gosney, (Reading) on oncology joint working. The session finishes with a platform presentation from Dr Tullo (Newcastle) on her submitted abstract: Comparative perceptions of academics and members of the public about public and patient involvement (PPI) in ageing research

After lunch there are three more parallel sessions (14.00-15.00):

• Session K: Future Hospital: Care for older people, by Dr Linda Patterson (OBE, Royal College of Physicians, London).
• Session L: HepatobIliary will first look at pancreaticobiliary problems in the elderly with Dr Manu Nayar (Freeman Hospital, Newcastle) followed by a presentation on hepatic disease on the acute medical unit by Prof Dave Jones (Newcastle University)
• Session M: Platform Presentations of submitted abstracts by Miles Witham (Dundee) on the Effect of vitamin D supplementation on orthostatic hypotension – data from the vitdish trial, Dr D H J Davis (Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge) on Delirium and terminal cognitive decline in relation to dementia neuropathology: results in 992 brain autopsies from three population based cohort studies, Dr T Kalsi (Guys & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust) on Validity & reliability of a comprehensive geriatric assessment screening questionnaire (CGA-gold) in older people with cancer and Dr H Patel (University of Southampton) on Lean mass, muscle strength and gene expression in community dwelling older men.

After a tea and coffee break, the following sessions are available for the afternoon (15.30-16.45):

• Session N: Epilepsy will look at the risk of seizures and safety measures with Phil Lee (CEO, Epilepsy Action), then Dr A Abdulla (Princess Royal University Hospital) will be asking, “Where are we with Old Age Epilepsy? Are we any wiser?” Dr Jon Cooper (Leeds General Infirmary) will then consider the diversity of Old Age Epilepsy through case studies, and finally we will hear about Managing Post-stroke Epilepsy: A Synopsis by Dr Khalid Ali (Brighton & Sussex Medical School).
• Session O: Cardiovascular begins with an update in acute stroke Thrombosis from Dr Ajay Bhalla (Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital London), followed by The Pathophysiology of Carotid Sinus Syndrome by Dr Steve Parry (Newcastle University) and finally: “The Dizzy Older Patient: Its not all Haemodynamic” by Dr Joanna Lawson (Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle).
• Session P: Age and Ageing Peer Review Workshop: A practical session offering support & skillsharing for peer reviewers at all levels given by Professor Roger Francis & Ms Katy Ladbrook, Facilitated by the Age and Ageing Editorial Editors

This year’s Guest Lecture (17.00-18.00) will be given by Prof Dawn Skelton (Glasgow Caledonian University) and is entitled: You can’t teach old dogs new tricks – or can you?

You can access the presentations on the BGS website here.

See also the details of BGS conference Day 1 and Day 3