The Society is again breaking new ground in embracing the benefits offered by new technology. For the first time, this edition is available in print and on-line (both in on-line reading and downloadable .pdf formats) at www.bgsnet.org.uk

The advantages are many, for example, in this edition, the article by Finbarr Martin provides pointers enabling the on-line reader to refer via a hyperlink to the documents cited by Finbarr in his article. In addition, the on-line version includes more pages of notices than could be accommodated in the printed version, where costs and the need to print in multiples of four pages constrain the size of the journal.

Whither away in future? Your opinion counts!
Apart from the advantages mentioned above, the Society could also make savings of £15000 a year were it to publish the Newsletter solely on line. As an experiment this month, members of the BGS Executive Committee will no longer wait for the BGS Newsletter to arrive on their doormats, but will instead receive an e-mail inviting them to download the Newsletter from the BGS web site. This alternative to the mounting pile of newsprint thudding through letterboxes could be extended to all members, if that is what members want. The Executive Committee do not harbour any secret plan to deprive those members who prefer to read the printed version over breakfast, of this pleasure. Equally we are keen to establish how many would prefer to read the Newsletter on line.

Would you therefore please, if you are that way inclined, access this Newsletter on-line and let us have any comments. You might also let the BGS office know whether in future, you would prefer it solely on line. Many thanks for your assistance with this project. To do so, simply click on Home, and proceed to the Subscribe menu. You may "unsubscribe" whenever you wish.

Vote for your preference in our online poll - see the bottom of the Home page

Focusing on the NSF in England
The NSF Focus Group, a subsection of the English Interim Administration has met for the first time. Members of the Group have been identified and tasked with looking at various initiatives. Thus Peter Belfield will look at BGS communication with the new NHS directorates and Ian Hastie will co-ordinate the Society’s response to the NSF workforce and training issues. David Black will continue to liaise with the National Older People’s Task Force and Finbarr Martin will produce a regular news feature on behalf of the group, which will be published through our Newsletter. I will continue to badger you with regular surveys to monitor progress!

And talking of surveys…
Following our successful joint venture with Age Concern on monitoring the progress of the NSF, we plan to continue this project with our next joint Age Concern/BGS Survey on the NSF standard 4 - General Hospital Care. The survey will be coming out to lead clinicians/clinical directors in England in the course of the next month. Please give freely of your valuable time to fill in the questionnaire, which should not take more than five minutes.

Future Director of CME
Professor Mark Castleden, who has been beavering away as CME Director for three years will be retiring at the 2003 AGM. To enable a smooth handover, the BGS is keen to find a suitable replacement to understudy from this year. The appointment to the post will be made by the UKMC. We would like to invite expressions of interest.

Congratulations
And finally, hearty congratulations to our newly elected President Elect, Dr Jeremy Playfer and Deputy Treasurer, Dr Margot Gosney. We welcome them to their posts in October 2002. Both Jeremy and Margot hail from Liverpool. Is this a Scouse take-over bid one wonders!

Chandi Vellodi
Editor