- Director’s Report

One of the major benefits of working with the BGS is the support and enthusiasm from colleagues on various committees, and the help from members.

I am particularly indebted to Prof Cameron Swift and Richard Lynham, who not only helped to point me in the right direction, but also guided me through committee protocols and were always there to provide all the necessary support.

CPD Curriculum
Members’ learning objectives aimed perhaps, at keeping themselves updated or reassured on their knowledge and practice. Such objectives may arise from their everyday problems, or be identified at the yearly appraisal. There is however, always the question of how do you know that your knowledge is deficient, if you are not tested beyond the familiar.

The aim of the curriculum was to encourage members to plan when the topic of their learning objective was to be aired, and also to make sure that there were no omissions. It was thought important that the BGS offered this facility for its members, through the bi-annual meetings. As Bob Stout put it, ‘we are not so much concerned about repetition as we are about omission’.

Under the chairmanship of Cameron Swift all the topics we felt geriatricians should know about, apart from acute medical emergencies, were listed in a five year rolling programme. This was subsequently, and without omission, worked through by the meetings secretaries so that each topic was visited over the five year period. Of course not every aspect of every topic could be covered, but at least the subject was brought up for discussion - hence teeth and toenails came into the bi-annual meetings, as did stroke and syncope. The rota was published in the newsletter and all members had the opportunity to add, delete and comment on its coverage.

CPD Articles
What is lacking is a written synopsis of the listed subjects, both to allow those who attended to check that they had understood the main points, and to give those who did not attend an opportunity to have the same educational experience. Clinically relevant reviews written by acknowledged world experts on each subject would also provide a useful series of articles for back reference - a rolling textbook of geriatric medicine. Such a facility would have international appeal.

The gap in this respect has been filled by the CME journal for Geriatric Medicine under the editorship of Stephen Allen. Although the journal is in its infancy, it will fill the gap in CME articles, and these articles will follow the same five year rolling programme in geriatric topics - so again, no omissions.

Website
Finally, we have been involved with the Novartis Foundation for Gerontology in the construction of a website containing almost all the knowledge a doctor requires to manage medical problems in older patients. The site is undergoing active revision and updating with the help of acknowledged experts of the topic reviewed. It is also to be extended, and other areas of medicine such as tropical and complementary medicine, added with the intention of making it truly international and globally relevant.

This project is tied to an educational assessment package for SpRs and consultants. Progression in both projects is hampered by a lack of funds, but it is hoped to obtain a three year grant this year which will see both finished, evaluated and published.

A new CPD Director
I am delighted to report that Ian Taylor has been appointed the CPD director from October 2003, for the next five years. I am sure that it is time to have a new captain at the helm. Ian will bring direction, enthusiasm and wisdom to the post, and like me, welcomes comments and suggestions from BGS members, on how they would like CPD in our Society to develop.

Prof Mark Castleden
Retired Director of CPD