The meeting was held on 21st-22nd March 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham and was attended by 51 delegates. We started with a debate centred on co-payments, chaired by Dr Ian Gibson MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer. The NHS legislation relating to funding was described by Mr Ben Troke, an associate solicitor specialising in clinical negligence and health law. Dr Rob Carlson, Ethicist from Edinburgh University discussed how historical and modern schools of ethics confront the dilemmas of co-payments. Dr Jonathan Joffe and Dr Marian Nicholson debated for and against, respectively “Is this the end of the NHS as we know it?” Despite considerable vigour and eloquence from Dr Marian Nicholson the motion was carried.
Dr Helen Earl presented the timetable for the introduction of knowledge-based assessments for Medical Oncologist SpRs. An invitation was extended to join the question writing workshops. Dr Pauline Leonard then gave hints, tips and advice on how to get a trainee including the paperwork necessary the responsibilities if successful. Professor Mark Bower gave a personal take on education supervision what he enjoyed and what he didn’t and the duties involved. The session was finished off by Dr Sebag-Montefiore who shared a series of techniques and tricks on how to chair a productive, convivial and successful meeting.
At the AGM the Chairman of the Committee, Vanessa Potter and Justin Waters both stepped down from the committee.
In the evening Professor Tom Treasure a founding member of the Alma Mater of the surgical randomised controlled trial gave a straight talking view of the need to confront and challenge medical dogma through clinical trials.
On the Sunday morning we held 4 workshops. Dr Alison Jones explained how to get to know the movers and the shakers. Professor Peter Clark gave useful tips on how to gain financial recognition for your achievements Following the workshops Professor Alan Roger presented what to do and how to behave when you receive a complaint. Dr Mark Harries brought the topic of career and job planning to life with the call that we should do it now before it is too late. Professor Hilary Calvert ended the meeting with an uplifting challenge of how cancer may be made a chronic disease.
The meeting was awarded 7 external non-clinical CPD credits.
If you read this I hope this will encourage you to join us next year to garner practical and insightful advice and to meet the latest crop of UK Medical Oncology Consultants.
