| The new generation of nurse leaders for older people look forward to sharing a specialist focus with the BGS.
Until 1994, the British Geriatrics Society was a self-consciously medical society, but appreciating the role of other professions in the care of older people, the Society recognised that without active input from nurses, therapists, pharmacists and scientists of the ageing process, the BGS could not comprehensively speak to the multi-faceted business of caring for older people. With all good intentions, an associate category of membership was instituted in the hope of drawing these professions into the British Geriatrics Society.
We came, we anticipated, nothing happened...
... a sentiment which many of our pioneer associate members must have felt - and which has been epitomised in Jan McFayden’s letter (inset).
Dear Membership secretary,
I would like to withdraw my
membership from the BGS. This is not
because of any dissatisfaction or lack
of agreement with the organisation’s policy and values.
I joined as a nurse consultant with a heavy commitment to the end of life care of older people. I had hoped that I would find like-minded individuals within the BGS, and that might be possible to participate in a multi-professional conversation and agenda around these issues. After a year I have to say that I have decided that this is not really possible, as there is no forum for non-medical discussions. I have become even more convinced that the BGS is an excellent and forward– thinking organisation, but it is an organisation of doctors and for doctors, and, as a nurse and researcher in applied social science, my input can probably be better directed towards other organisations.
I wish BGS every good wish for the future.
Yours sincerely
Jan McFadyen, BA MSc RN |
While fully appreciating the role of the other professions, the Society’s agenda could not help but be medically driven, with doctors at the helm, and so our associates may have felt that they had little voice.
With the establishment of NHS nurse consultants’ posts in 1999, it became even more pertinent that the BGS find a means of drawing our nursing, therapist and other professional colleagues into a more active role but despite the multi-disciplinary days attached to the main BGS Scientific meetings, and the sterling work of members like Rebecca Dunn and Chandi Vellodi in engaging with nurses and therapists, it seemed that doctors will be doctors, nurses will be nurses, therapists will be therapists and rarely shall they meet on common ground! The Society needed a forum where nurses and other professions could, in Jan’s words, meet and interact more regularly with like-minded people while feeding into the wider agenda of geriatric care.
BGS Special Interest Groups
The Society’s Special Interest Groups were established not only because many geriatricians have chosen to practice or research specific clinical and management areas inside the broad spectrum of expertise in medicine in older patients, but to provide a forum for other professions to interact with doctors within their chosen areas of “sub-specialty”. The Special Interest Groups are invaluable in responding to government consultation documents and publishing guidelines and policy statements. With the crucial role played by nurses in emerging models of long term conditions management, the British Geriatrics Society needs the expertise of the nursing profession to respond to government consultations and have input into policy on long term conditions, to mention but one issue.
Nurse Consultants Special Interest Group
To this end, the BGS United Kingdom Management Committee has approved the establishment of a Nurse Consultants Special Interest Group. The draft constitution describes the objectives of the group as being:
To raise the profile of the contribution of nurses and nursing to the delivery of expert patient care for older people both in primary and secondary care settings and in care homes
- To provide a forum through which innovations and developments in the care of older people can be shared on a national basis and across all disciplines working with older people
- To contribute to identifying both short and long term priorities for the care of older people both locally and nationally, in relation to policy/strategy, clinical practice and research and to champion the implementation of such priorities
- To foster and support approaches to practice that consider the "whole" person and the effects of illness on individuals' and their carers' lives, and those that are person/patient centred
- To provide high quality professional advice on a national level where appropriate (on the health and social care of older people)
Building blocks
The inaugural meeting of the Special Interest Group was held in late December and we shall report on this and future plans in the next issue of the newsletter.
At that meeting officers were appointed to act until a full election can be held at the SIG’s first Annual General Meeting. An interim management committee was also established, comprised of David Jones (Chairman), Clare Abley and Gwyn Grout (Co-Secretaries), Frazer Underwood (Treasurer) and Diane Lewis MBE.
Eligibility for membership
All nurse consultants and nurses who can demonstrate innovation in the care of older people are welcome to apply for membership, be they consultant nurses or not. One may choose to apply for membership of the Special Interest Group, but may choose not to join the British Geriatrics Society itself. Provided that 51 per cent of the members of the Special Interest Group are members of the British Geriatrics Society, the officers of the Special Interest Group may consider applications from non-BGS members to join the group. Where a potential applicant wishes to join the BGS as well, an application form may be downloaded from the BGS website, and should be sent in the first instance, to David Jones, Nurse Consultant for older people/Unplanned Care, Kent Lodge, Thomas Drive, Broad Green Hospital, Liverpool L14 3LB. Alternatively, complete the form on your PC and email it to David Jones. The form should be accompanied by a statement outlining the applicant’s achievements in innovative service delivery in older people’s care.
Associate membership of the British Geriatrics Society costs £25.00 p.a. (if one pays by direct debit) or £45.00 if one pays by other means. Should a member wish to receive the Age & Ageing journal, membership costs £67 or £87, depending on whether one chooses to pay by direct debit or not.
We hope to make this group a dynamic contributor to national policy on geriatric care, and that it will serve as a model for Special Interest Groups incorporating the therapists and other professionals involved in older people’s care. We would welcome comments and suggestions from our nursing colleagues and hope to meet you at future events.
Further meetings are planned for 17 February and April (date to be advised) with the first AGM being held on 16 June.
David Jones
Chairman : BGS Nurse Consultants SIG
Nurse Consultant for Older People/Unplanned Care
North, Central and South Liverpool Primary Care Trusts
|