PCDS Newsletter: The PCDS plans for 2006

The PCDS: Plans for 2006
Following the election of the first full Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) committee at the inaugural conference at The Belfry last November the committee has appointed its officers (listed at the end) and then met over one weekend in January to start planning this year’s work.

Priorities for 2006 include the organisation of our next conference. I’m delighted to point you towards its programme on pages 20–21, which we hope will build on the tremendous success of the inaugural event while taking note of delegates’ suggestions. This year we hope that even more than the 400 or so of you who came to The Belfry will attend. Put the dates (17–18 November) in your diary now!

Also discussed by the committee was the possible role of the PCDS in organising or being involved in local events. This may be more appropriate in some areas that are currently less well provided for in this respect than others where successful events already occur. It is likely that we will try to pilot this plan in at least two or three areas over the next 18 months. We can benefit here from the expertise of SB Communications Group, who run our secretariat, organise our conference and publish this journal among a wide portfolio of other medical work.

We hope to develop the PCDS website (www.pcdsociety.org [accessed 16.03.2006]) further, with a particular possibility being the provision of comprehensive ‘links’ to high-quality Internet- based resources to help you in your everyday clinical work.

Members of the PCDS are involved in a variety of important and influential work with other organisations, even at the international level, as evidenced by our membership of Primary Care Diabetes Europe, which is currently chaired by one of our own original steering group members, Dr Eugene Hughes from the Isle of Wight. Closer to home we are increasingly being asked to join and advise working groups which will influence the future of the care which we are all providing. Dr Azhar Farooqi is involved in advisory work with Sue Roberts, our national diabetes ‘czar’; we have also been asked to

be involved in the development of future National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines regarding type 2 diabetes, and guidelines on the use and provision of insulin pumps.

The PCDS has a dynamic group of General Practitioners with a Special Interest (GPwSI) in diabetes, who are developing communications and support among themselves. They are represented on our committee by Dr Sue Holmes and Dr Brian Karet. Sue and Brian, and perhaps others, will be involved in work the PCDS has been invited to contribute to: defining competencies that GPwSIs are expected to work to as they move towards formal accreditation rather than working to local and variable contracts. The society also has a talented and energetic representation on its committee of other professionals, particularly nurses, who will be developing their role in the society. We are also keen to build links with representative groups of other professions involved in the care of people with diabetes.

Meanwhile, the work of finding financial support for all these activities continues. We are very grateful to our sponsors for supporting us while not seeking to undermine our independence.

Finally, and crucially, we wish to hear from YOU, our members. Opinions, guidance and offers of help are very welcome via the website. The more you are involved, the more we can achieve as a society.

Martin Hadley-Brown Chairman, PCDS, and GP, Thetford, Norfolk

Speakers confirmed for the 2nd National Conference of the PCDS
The 2nd National Conference of the Primary Care Diabetes Society will be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, 17–18 November 2006. It will be opened by Professor Sir George Alberti, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Newcastle (see pages 20–21 for full details).

The 2-day conference will cover topics related to achieving a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach to diabetes care. A number of masterclasses are also available to delegates. Topics for the masterclasses include practice- based commissioning, neuropathy, psychological theory to help develop diabetes interventions, insulin initiation in the community, structured education, engaging hard-to-reach groups, and the use of electronic resources for education. Kevin Harris (Nephrologist and

Clinical Director of Renal Services and Urology, Leicester) will give a presentation on the role that primary care can play in the prevention, early detection and treatment of diabetes- related renal disease.

Obesity-related challenges faced in general practice and how obesity registers can help in tackling the challenges will be discussed by Pam Dyson (Dietitian, Oxford).

The keynote lecture will be given by Christopher Byrne (Head of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Southampton). He will talk about the role of physical activity in diabetes management and whether it is a realistic intervention.

On day 2, Brian Karet (a GP with a Special Interest in diabetes) and two of his colleagues will consider whether diabetes care is truly multidisciplinary, and discuss how to improve the effectiveness of your own care team.

David Kerr (Consultant Physician, Bournemouth) and Simon Griffin (Programme Leader, Medical Research Council, Cambridge) will debate whether pharmacological intervention should be used for prediabetes (speaking for and against its use, respectively).

Closing the conference will be Neil Munro (GP, Surrey), who will present current and future ‘hot topics’, including an update on state-of-the-art therapeutics.