I attended the meeting yesterday at Fry's Conference Centre, Keynsham.  Neurology was the educational topic and teaching covered peripheral neuropathy, headache and tremor.  Found the headache talk by Dr Giffin particularly helpful (apparently the vast majority of headaches that present to primary care are migrainous in origin) with an emphasis on trying to be clear what type of headache someone has before treating.  Copies of these presentations should be available on the BGPERT website in the next few days.  The business side of the meeting gave an update from BANEs consortium chair (Ian Orpen) on the impact of the recent 'pause' and the changes to the proposed health bill.  There was a discussion about the use of treatment centres (ie Emersons Green) as well as clearer guidance as to what drugs/procedures are currently funded by the PCT (plan is to release a booklet like the BCAP formulary).  Given the summer holidays the next GP Forum Plus meeting will be on Tuesday 13th September.  Please check your emails and/or coming events section nearer the time.   


With regard to the current website - last week there was some issues re: members accessing the job section.  If you are having problems logging in please let us know and we can try and rectify them.  Would be grateful for some comments/feedback about putting job vacancies on the site rather than emailing them out.  The aim is to try and reduce the emails and collate the information in one place.  Would you prefer this approach or emailing?  Let us know at sulisdoc@gmail.com

Cheers Shan

We've had a great response to the website and also comments re: the members area - well it's now functioning but still password protected (see your email for the password).  The reason for this is so we can include more sensitive information (ie contact numbers) which aren't supposed to be in the public domain.  We would be grateful if you didn't share the password to non-members - encourage them to join!  The contacts section includes the recently sent out info from the RUH medical departments.  There is also a section on obtaining and nhs.net account - unfortunately the new consultant emailing service will only work through nhs.net accounts.  However as Sulisdoc members you are entitled to one - see the bottom of the page for details.  Other sections are clinical information - its a bit bare at present so would be grateful for suggestions/input on what to add.  Finally I've added a jobs section - we were never set up or designed to be a hub for jobs but we are planning to carry this on for now.  Adding jobs to the website is a new idea but we may revert back to emailing them out depending on feedback and/or if it becomes too much extra work.  Cheers, Shan

Attended the GP forum plus meeting today.  Quite a long session (1.30 - 5.15pm) with a large turnout of GPs and practice managers.  Cardiology referrals discussed with emphasis on the management of arrhythmias and heart failure.  Powerpoint slides are due to be added to the BGPERT website.  New contact telephone numbers for all medical departments as well as email addresses (these were emailed out to you a few days ago).  Consultants are now able to respond to particular patient queries by email as they now have nhs.net accounts.  Unsure about implications of emailing them from a non NHS account though.  Second half of the meeting more business oriented.  Main focus was a presentation on QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) and the implications this has on our day to day practice.  Other topic was the new GP Consortium.  There will be a vote in the coming days on this issue so please check your emails and respond.  Will forward minutes of meeting once received.  For those interested in attending the next meeting it is on the 23rd June - check the Coming Events section for more details.  Shan       

Welcome to the new Sulisdoc website.  It is very basic at present but hopefully new elements will be added in the coming months.  We may try and move some of the emailed information onto the website but are limited as to what can be shared publicly.  Let us know your thoughts!  Cheers, Shan.