While across the pond, things presidential have been abuzz, here too in the BGS, far nobler Presidential issues played out in October at our Autumn Meeting.

The BGS welcomed its new President, Dr Jeremy Playfer, into post and bid adieu to Prof Bob Stout. The occasion was marked by a well photographed passing on of the chain of office, a very “bling bling” piece of merchandise. Prof Crome was also formally welcomed as the president-elect at the AGM and so continuity is assured.

Continuity as a concept was approached in Harrogate on the opening day. The Society has moved north for its Autumn meetings, at least for the next few years. Janice O’Connell had arranged a session on the opening day, “Future Models Of Geriatric Care”, the theme of which reflected on the nature of continuity of structures of geriatric care in the UK and beyond. The audience size - more than 300 people seated on chairs, on the floor and lining the walls in the standing room only aisles, reflected the interest.

The audience were not to be disappointed and prominent geriatricians enlivened the proceedings with “Managed Care”, “Evercare-Kaiser Permanente-style”, “Community Hospitals - (then, now, tomorrow)”, the “SAP”, “Emergency Care”, “Process Mapping and Statistical analysis”. After tea, we learnt how the “now” generation think of their future role in the care of older patients.

It was complexity cogently delivered and in a week when Derrida died, the themes were deconstructed by an able audience of critics. The Chairman could have left the exchanges to continue for much longer. Profound views were expressed and the debate triggered that evening will continue for quite a time to come.

Not so grand obsession
My one observation is a sense that in the Health Services of today, there appears to be a belief that if things cannot be defined and measured at all times, their value is questionable. So, the worth of our patients’ welfare is boiled down to the influence of Alan Turing’s invention, the computer which renders the universe down to either 1 or 0, and the health economist’s eternal quest to cost everything that comes into the realm of human understanding.

Fortunately, geriatricians at their core know better.

Raising hackles
On an even more controversial theme, the BGS responded to the House of Lords Bill on Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill. This response did the rounds several times over, the whole issue of euthanasia having raised hackles of several members. Not all are happy with our response and I would be pleased to hear from our readers if you have strong views in this regard.

New Technology in health care
Frank Miskelly puts in a rare appearance with his update on new technology in care of the older patient. I mention it because the New Technology SIG has struck lucky in securing one of the sought after parallel session slots at the BGS Autumn meeting in 2005. The technophiliacs (those gadget people!) amongst our readers are asked to get their research ready and contact Frank to register their interest in presenting.

Kevin Kelleher