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Armed Forces Conference 2008

Care of service men and women - from the frontline to the NHS
Thursday 22 May 2008
BMA House, London

The BMA’s Armed Forces Committee is holding its annual conference on Thursday 22 May 2008 at BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP.

At this year’s conference we hope to engender a debate around issues relating to the ongoing care of injured service personnel when they leave the frontline, through to transition to NHS care on leaving the service. I am pleased to announce that our speakers/discussion panel members include the following people:

• Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg MP
• The Surgeon General, Lieutenant General Lillywhite
• Professor Simon Wesseley, Director, King’s Centre for Military Health Research
• Commodore Toby Elliott, Chief Executive, Combat Stress
• Lieutenant Colonel Ernie Stables, Assistant General Secretary, British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association

We have invited people to speak about various aspects of the patient journey from the frontline to the NHS. One of the issues we would like to tackle at the conference is what happens to veterans in the NHS once they have been discharged from the armed services, how best we can keep track of them within the NHS, how we can ensure they receive the priority care to which they are entitled and how we can improve on current arrangements.

The conference will also provide a valuable opportunity to share your views on a range of issues affecting both regular and reserve officers, and to help shape the work of the Armed Forces Committee in the coming session.

All doctors in the Defence Medical Services and the reserves may attend the conference. There is no charge to BMA members and non-members may attend at a charge of £25.00 (including VAT) to cover administration costs, lunch and refreshments on the day. In most cases the MoD should cover your travel and subsistence costs. Please note that the BMA cannot meet travel, subsistence or accommodation costs.

It would also be a pleasure to see you at the conference dinner which will be held on Wednesday 21 May 2008 at HMS President, Royal Naval Reserves Centre, 72 St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1UQ. The cost of attending the dinner is £50.00 (including VAT) per person.

If you wish to attend the conference and/or the dinner please complete the on-line registration form. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact BMA Conferences on 020 7383 6819 or email sarmitage@bma.org.uk

I look forward to welcoming you to another successful and informative conference on Thursday 22 May 2008.

Yours sincerely

Dr J Brendan McKeating
Chairman, BMA Armed Forces Committee

How to register
You can register online using the form here.

Preliminary Programme

09:30 – 10:00
Registration and refreshments

10:00 – 10:10
Welcome — Chairman of conference
Dr J Brendan McKeating, Chairman, BMA Armed Forces Committee

10:10 – 10:30
Keynote address
Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg MP

10:30 – 10:50
What do we do well and what could be better?
Professor Simon Wesseley, Director, King’s Centre for Military Health Research

10:50 – 11:10
Care at the frontline
Lieutenant Colonel Julian Olver TD RAMC(V), Consultant Anaesthetist 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Volunteers); Deputy Chairman BMA Armed Forces Committee

11:10 – 11:30
Transfer of patients to the UK — AeroMedVac
Group Captain Neil McGuire, Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist, Department of Military Anaesthetics and Critical Care, HQ DMETA

11:30 – 11:50
Care in the UK
Surgeon Captain C J G McArthur, (RN), Standing Joint Commander Medical, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak, Birmingham

11:50 – 12:10
Defence rehabilitation
Lieutenant Colonel Etherington, Defence Services Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, Epsom, Surrey

12:10 – 12:30
The service patient experience
Commodore Toby Elliott, Chief Executive, Combat Stress

12:30 – 12:50
Care for service men and women in the NHS — priority treatment?
Dr Peter J P Holden, BMA General Practitioners Committee (GPC) Negotiator, Member of BMA Council, British Medical Association

12:50 – 13:10
Questions and panel discussion

13.10 – 14.00
Lunch

14:00 – 14:20
The post-service experience
Lieutenant Colonel Ernie Stables, Assistant General Secretary, British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association

14:20 – 15:20
Breakout groups

1. Priority treatment for veterans
2. Reservists – encouraging employers
3. Mental health of veterans
4. Recruitment and retention of Defence Medical Services (DMS) doctors

Refreshments will be available in breakout rooms

15:20 – 15:50
Feedback and general discussion

15:50 – 16:20
Armed Forces Committee – discussion of motions for submission to the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting
Dr J Brendan McKeating

16:20
Close of conference

Please note this programme may be subject to change.

Conference Dinner
Wednesday 21 May 2008 – Applicable to those who have booked tickets
The conference dinner will take place on Wednesday 21 May at HMS President, Royal Naval Reserves Centre, 72 St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1UQ. Reception drinks will be served from 19:00 and a 3-course dinner, with wine and coffee, will be served at 19:30. To book your place at the dinner please complete the on-line registration form here.

Conference booking terms and conditions
All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions set out below, and should be made on the Registration Form.

1. Submission of your booking is an offer which will be acknowledged in writing by BMA Conferences. Acceptance of the booking will only take place if so agreed by BMA Conferences and not until receipt of cleared funds (if applicable) for the conference, and when specified in writing by BMA Conferences.
2. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of BMA Conferences to alter the content and timing of the conference, the identity of the speaker, the date or the venue. In the unlikely event of the conference being cancelled, we will refund you the registration fee (except in circumstances as set out in clause 9 below), but we will not be liable to you for any other costs or losses, whether direct or indirect.
3. Information from the Registration Form will be used to provide a list of delegates for circulation at the conference. We will also process the personal data on the Registration Form, in order to ensure that necessary arrangements are made for you for the conference. This may include passing such information to the operators of the venue, for the purposes required for the conference. You will also have the option not to receive any future mailings from BMA Conferences, and if so you can tick the box on the Registration Form.
4. The prices quoted are exclusive of VAT (unless otherwise specified), which shall be payable on all bookings at the standard rate of 17.5% (or as amended) (VAT No 674 7384 91).
5. Please note that we may make a search with a credit reference agency, which will keep a record of that search and may share that information with other businesses. In the case of company bookings we may also make enquiries about the principal directors with a credit reference agency.
6. If you wish to cancel your booking, please inform BMA Conferences in writing immediately. Cancellation charges, for accepted bookings, are as a percentage of the registration fee, and require written notice as follows:
   received up to 1 week before date of conference 50%
   received less than 1 week before date of conference 100%
7. Notwithstanding the provisions regarding the timing of the receipt of the cancellation (and ensuing refund) in clause 6, cancellations of bookings shall only be effective on the acknowledgement by BMA Conferences of receipt of such cancellations. In the absence of such acknowledgements, the bookings in question shall be deemed not to be cancelled and refunds shall not be payable.
8. You will need to comply at all times with the rules and regulations imposed by the venue. You will also need to ensure that you have your own insurances against any loss to your property you may suffer, or any loss or damage you may cause at the conference.
9. It is regretted that no refund will be made to those registrants who have booked and paid for the conference but who are unable to attend on the day, for whatever reason. However, substitutes may be made, provided that a name is sent in writing to BMA Conferences prior to the conference.
10. Should we be unable to perform any obligations under this Agreement due to causes or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including any Act of God, war or threatened war, terrorism or threatened terrorism, fire, flood, drought, strike, lock out or actions of the venue, we will not be liable to you for this.
11. This agreement is subject to the laws of England and it is agreed that the courts of competent jurisdiction shall be the English Courts.

Contact
BMA Conferences, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7383 6819
Fax: +44 (0)20 7383 6663
E-mail: sarmitage@bma.org.uk
Web: www.bma.org.uk/afc