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Having taken up the first pages of this issue discussing the current state of the NHS and the threats and opportunities to improve care for older people, my piece today will be briefer than my previous editorials.

After four years as deputy secretary and honorary secretary, I am stepping down in Harrogate, so this will be my last newsletter. I will be continuing as the Falls and Bone Health Section co-chair and BGS national Lead on Age Discrimination and I intend to continue writing and helping with media work. I am delighted to be replaced by such an outstanding young geriatrician, talented researcher and passionate advocate for older people as Dr Simon Conroy.

In my time as editor of this newsletter, I have aimed to make it a useful resource for the Society’s largely clinician-members, on key developments in health service structure and policy, so that they can navigate the choppy waters that either help or hinder local service delivery and leadership, and learn from good practice models or new services around the country. An academic journal such as Age and Ageing is not designed to do this, so we would like to think that the newsletter and our website resources complements the journal. Particular thanks go to Recia Atkins, my sub-editor and the webmaster for her support.

Outward facing
I am also delighted that over the past year or two we have become far more outward facing, responding to and influencing ever more national consultations, policies and guideline groups and having a growing media presence, thanks in no small part to Alex Mair’s strategic plan and our investment in such a talented and committed Press and Parliamentary Affairs Officer as Iona-Jane, who is doing us proud, not least in forging better links with sister organisations and in getting a more consistent BGS line out there via a gradually growing number of spokespeople. We have also taken up again, the Society’s earlier mantle of a campaigning organisation in providing resources and awareness to improve practice.

Member engagement and involvement
We now have a record number of BGS members at 2,500. So it is with a tinge of disappointment that my proselytising efforts to engage more members to write for us/respond to items or join in the fun, haven’t entirely worked. It would be good to have a more diverse range of people involved and contributing. Much of the work of the BGS and its sections, or contributions to our publications, have tended to come from a fairly small group of enthusiasts. Remember, it is your organisation, and in my view a fantastic organisation it is too. If anyone is in doubt of the range of activities we are involved in and the work we do not only for our members, but to help drive improvements in older people’s care and to promote research and training, then read the Annual Report. Also, if you do have comments or criticisms, feel free to speak up at the Annual General Meeting. I hope to see as many of you as possible in Harrogate. Over and Out.

David Oliver

BGS Newsletter, September 2009
Issue 23 ISSN 1748-634000 23