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This month’s letters page features a letter from David Griffith regarding an item in the November issue in response to NICE guidance on Cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimers disease.

This letter was written in December but somehow failed to reach us and it was only when David contacted the office, requesting a declaration of the Authors interests that we realised the original had gone missing. Now, one reason for featuring this letter is that I wish immediately to quash the notion that any item is censored or not available for discussion in these columns because it is uncomfortable or “off message”. I hope I have made it clear over the last couple of years we welcome all contributions and comment from members and we are not afraid to allow controversial discussions to take place, so read on.

Without breaching confidences, I think it is fair to say that among some members of UKMC the content of the BGS response, drafted by the Cerebral Ageing and Mental health SIG and colleagues from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, did raise a few eyebrows. In fact, it probably led directly to our President and Chief Executive drafting some new guidance regarding Endorsements by the UKMC of Policies, responses and Guidance issued in the name of the Society. My experience has been that official responses have been hitherto factual, analytical and objective but this one was different in tone, bordering on a campaign statement, which a quick visit to the website will quickly confirm (www.bgs.org.uk - select Publications/Positions Statements).

In my view David Griffith is right.We have to ensure that our educational partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry both as a Society and individuals do not allow us to become a medium for vested interests to exert influence. We are still ambivalent about the notion of positioning ourselves as a campaigning organisation, a topic we will have chance to discuss at the members’ session in Harrogate. The issue of continuing GMC registration has no place in a Society position statement of this type and to encourage non adherence to NICE guidance challenges the right of elected Government to manage the National Health Service in England and decide which areas represent value for money. That’s not to say we necessarily agree with the recommendations but we have to accept that NICE has the right to make them. Clinical freedom died some years ago.

Devolution revisited
Debate continues around the Society about how local policy issues dealt with by the four national councils are best shared and discussed. Indeed as I write this column shortly after elections to the Scottish Parliament and the prospect of a Scottish Prime minister at Westminster becomes a reality, it seems that Society life starts to reflect the country as a whole. The places where this is mostly keenly felt are at the Policy Committee and UKMC where sometimes it is heard that English issues dominate the agenda. My plea therefore, is for national representatives to continue to raise the big issues from their patch at these meetings and for analysis to be full in order for the Society to remain strong, authoritative and inclusive.

Reflections on Brighton
Elsewhere in this issue we feature our customary reports on the Spring Conference. Congratulations to Prof Rajkumar and his team on organising an enjoyable and extremely successful meeting. There were two really interesting innovations I thought. Firstly, well done to the 15 or so members including a large number of trainees who appeared at 6.30 the morning after the dinner to take part in a 5km fun run along the sea front. David Stott and John Young set a cracking pace but everyone seemed to enjoy it and we hope it will be repeated. The second was the appearance of the Country and Western singing star Tina C after the Society Dinner. Certainly a contrast to Alex Mair’s after dinner contributions, it was a relief to know that John Young also struggled with gender identification issues. Having clarified the position in my own mind, I became a bit uncomfortable when Tina launched into the old Foreigner number, “ I want to know where Dave is”.

Jed Rowe
I am sure that readers would wish to join me in wishing Jed, who recently received the President’s Medal all the best.

Final word - Egobusters
I am grateful to Duncan Forsyth for his supportive comments and on the occasional inadvertent insults that may find their way into the final paragraph of this column and for proposing the collective title of Egobusters. Here are the latest examples:

• Ward nurse to Duncan Forsyth when he mentioned that in his pre-consultant days, ward sisters presented consultant physicians with a boutonniere before launching ward rounds, “Well, perhaps you don’t get buttonhole because you don’t deserve a buttonhole.”
• Retired seamstress to BGS officer; “Call that a jacket? I‘ve seen better cloth wrapped round a cheese.”

Final, final word-Geordie Lasses
I couldn’t resist recounting a new version of an old story I heard last week. Working late one evening I heard our usual boisterous domestics approaching the office door.

“Eee, wor sister‘s copied the Beckhams and caalled the baby after where it was, ye knaw, conceived like….Paris Hilton Ferris”. “Why if that’s the rule, I should have called wor lad Wrekenton Co-op Carpark.”

David Beaumont