The SAS group met on 6th October at Harrogate during the BGS Autumn Scientific conference.

Disappointingly attendance was down compared to last year. This reflected the lower attendance for the main BGS meeting in Harrogate compared to the previous year, perhaps as a result of the timing coinciding with the first week of Ramadan. There were also reports of some difficulties with the Harrogate venue. If you had problems attending, for whatever reason, we would like to hear from you, since the academic content was in my opinion the best ever. Meetings have been going from strength to strength since I started attending them over 20 years ago, but sometimes the event has been more of an endurance test with the feeling of having been power-pointed out. This year, however, there was an excellent range of speakers, plenty of time for poster reviewing and a move away from the straight lecture format was ventured in some sessions.

Back to the attendance of the SAS group meeting, quality made up for quantity, and a warm welcome to those new members who joined us, as well as a thank you to those members who continue to offer their support.

Updates were given on the BMA negotiations for our new contract, PMETB, Continuing Professional Development and appraisal. Disturbingly it was established that one of the delegates still had not been appraised despite the Trust being aware of this. If any SAS doctor has not yet been appraised or has not had regular annual appraisals they should immediately let me know, as this is a prerequisite for working in hospital and community medicine. The BGS then can offer formal support to you in becoming appraised. If you are concerned about your CPD, study leave or funding, again we are interested to hear your problems and assistance can be offered.

Advice on obtaining discretionary points was also given at the meeting. Reports on the strategies for more SAS involvement within the BGS at national and regional level were discussed and the targets for further action in the coming year were set. I will write further on these matters in my column.

Lastly, the election of office bearers was conducted and the current holders were asked to continue in their posts. Don Lecamwasam was unanimously elected to continue as secretary of group. He has held office since the group’s inception and I would personally like to thank him for his continued support in organising the meetings. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the secretariat for their expert and friendly assistance.

Let me remind you that membership to the SAS group is open to all members of the British Geriatrics Society but also it is open to non-members of the BGS by invitation of the Committee. We are a friendly, inclusive group who welcome new faces. Practical advice on CPD, revalidation, appraisal and applying for discretionary points is available.

Sue Morgan
Chair
Staff and Associate Specialists Sub-Committee