Healthcare professionals from all parts of Ireland gathered in the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone on 27 April for the 5th all-Ireland PCDS conference. The conference got off to a tantalising start when delegates heard Roisin Shortall (Minister of State, Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care) announce important changes to the delivery of primary care in Ireland. Her six-point presentation emphasised a key role for primary care and the importance of diabetes as a chronic diseases model.
Her presentation was followed by a thought-provoking presentation from Michael Ryan (Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Antrim) on the role of obesity in causing diabetes and the importance of addressing obesity in people with diabetes.
Delegates were then divided between three workshops: Claire Holt (Practice Nurse, Coventry) and Julie Widdowson (Diabetes Educator/Practitioner and Service Lead, King’s Lynn) looked at what the ideal diabetes clinic looks like in general practice; Susan Smith (GP, Dublin) dealt with using HbA1c as a diagnostic tool; and Hilda Francey (Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Belfast) covered the practical aspects of injectables.
Before the evening symposium dinner, Christopher Wong (Consultant Nephrologist, Liverpool) gave a stimulating presentation on diabetes and renal function.
The next morning, delegates began with two different but useful presentations. Jayant Sharma (Dublin) covered optimising hypertension control in diabetes. Successful management strategies for coping with diabetes emergencies was very clearly dealt with by Helen Twamley (Clinical Nurse Manager/Registered Nurse Prescriber, Dublin).
The delegates then broke into three workshops: Siobhan Meehan (Diabetes Nurse Specialist, Athlone) looked at effective use of blood glucose monitoring; Tony O’Sullivan (GP, Dublin) spoke on how to cope with situations presented by difficult cases; and Claire Holt and Julie Widdowson repeated their workshop from the previous day.
The meeting was drawn to a close by John Nolan (Head of Steno Diabetes Centre, Denmark), who ranged widely in his thoughts on the future of diabetes care, as well as outlining his experimental experience in Denmark and the Danish society’s approach to health and obesity.
Enthusiastic thanks were expressed to the SB Communications team for organising the event as well as the support of all the pharmaceutical sponsors.
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