SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
BUSINESS MEETING FRIDAY, 13TH NOVEMBER 2009 WESTPARK CENTRE, DUNDEE
1. Council Meetings
The Council is continuing to meet separately from the main winter and summer meetings. The next meeting of the Council is in January 2010 at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. The time available to discuss issues in depth has been beneficial and it is intended that these meetings will continue.
2. New GI Curriculum
The President was able to inform the Society of the planned new GI curriculum in his role as Scottish representative on the SAC committee. The plan is for there to be specialist training modules in hepatology, nutrition, inflammatory bowel disease and advanced endoscopy as well as “core” gastroenterology. This raised some discussion regarding the possibility of endoscopy fellowships in EUS and ERCP. It was acknowledged that whilst this was a medical curriculum, it would have implications for surgical endoscopists.
The curriculum is to be published online and members are encouraged to review this.
3. National Liver Plan
The National Liver Plan has been proposed by the British Association for the Study of the Liver as well as the BSG Liver Section Committee. It identified a clinical need for hepatologists. There is perceived to be an increasing burden of liver disease with a high proportion of current trainees expressing interest in hepatology. However currently there are very few hepatology sub specialty posts. Whilst the general direction of the document was welcomed, it did largely focus upon England and Wales and its applicability in the context of Scotland was less clear. It was felt there may have to be some adaptation of the plan before it could be applied to Scotland.
4. External Advisor for Consultant Advisory Appointment Committee
The post has replaced the “National Panellist”. It is only required for full time NHS appointments and has no absolute veto on the appointment of an applicant.
5. The Specialty Certificate Examination in Gastroenterology
The week before the business meeting 110 candidates (95 from the United Kingdom) sat this examination. This examination will be compulsory for trainees commencing from 2007 onwards but optional for trainees commencing before that. Again the President has advised members that junior staff should be encouraged to sit it whether compulsory or not and the examination does meet with the approval of TIGs.
6. SACDA Nominations
The President again reminded members of the Society that the SSG can formally support SACDA nominations for members and that the deadline was December 2009. SECRETARIES BUSINESS
1. Proposed Legislation on Alcohol
The Secretary informed the Society of the Councils decision to support the proposed legislation on alcohol. Amongst the proposal is minimum pricing for alcohol. Each member has been contacted by e-mail with the template of a letter which can be sent to local MSPs. The letter provides statistical information regarding the impact of alcohol upon Scotland’s health and encourages support for these measures. Members of the Society were encouraged to make contact with their MSPs and perhaps even invite them to visit clinical areas to see the effects of alcohol on health first hand.
2. SSG Website
The website is now functional although still requiring current and up to date information to populate the various pages. It is hoped that within a matter of a few weeks it will be able to provide links to other gastroenterology sites as well as information regarding ongoing research and educational opportunities in gastroenterology throughout Scotland. The company TAQT (formally Chequebase) has agreed to continue supporting the website as this was proving more difficult than anticipated.
3. New Members
The Secretary informed the Society of the following new members of the Society since June 2009.
Dr Christopher Macdonald, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle Dr Stephen Barclay, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Glasgow Royal Infirmary Dr Bassiouni Ibrahim, Staff Grade Physician, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Consultant Physician, Wishaw General Hospital
4. Composition of Council
Dr Jonathan Fletcher has joined the Council as a DGH representative. There still is a vacancy for a trainee representative. Several trainees have indicated their interest. As a result a ballot will have to be taken of the trainees. This will be arranged in due course.
5. Future Meetings
The summary meeting will be held in East Kilbride hosted by Dr Stewart Campbell of Hairmyres Hospital. It is hoped that this meeting will have a focus upon gastroenterology physiology services.
Dr Andrew Bathgate is to host the winter meeting 2010.
The dates and venues for both meetings are awaited.
6. Treasurers Report
The treasurer was able to briefly outline to the membership that the society’s finances remains stable since June.
7. Research Committee Report
Unfortunately Professor Hayes was unable to be present at the business meeting. Recruitment for the TOPPIC study has improved. It is hoped that the STOPAH trial in alcoholic hepatitis will be able to commence at the beginning of 2010.
The President closed the meeting at 1.45pm.