Dates for Your Diary

9 March

Enquire Annual Conference: ‘Families as Learning Partners’
The Enquire annual conference will take place on Tuesday 9th March 2010 in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. This is an important event for all those with an interest in the education of children with additional support needs.

This year it will focus on parental involvement. Parents have a key role to play in all children's learning and can have a dramatic positive effect on educational outcomes, and this can be especially true for those children with additional needs. The conference aims to look at the successes and challenges for parental involvement. Read more and go to the enquire website to download information including a programme, flyer, process and booking form.

9 March

Anticipatory Care Practitioner’s Event, 2010, Dynamic Earth,  Edinburgh

NHS Health Scotland is inviting community-led health organisations to host a stall at its Anticipatory Care Practitioners Event on Equality and Diversity on March 9th.

The national anticipatory care practitioners’ network was established in 2006 after consultation with practitioners’ working in the first wave of Keep Well projects. The objectives were to provide:

• A forum to share practice and learning

• Opportunities for networking

• Support for dissemination of learning and experiences

• Peer support for practitioners

• An opportunity to reflect on practice and develop new approaches.
   

The network was developed specifically for practitioners within the NHS, local authority or community and voluntary sectors who are involved in delivery of Keep Well and others with a role and interest in anticipatory care. It now involves all NHS Health Boards.  Please visit the network's web pages for more background information.

The March event is focused on the theme of Equality and Diversity.  The day will involve a range of interactive workshops and marketplaces that will aim to assist practitioners with knowledge and skills focused on this theme.

If you would like to participate in the event, please contact NHS Health Scotland directly and register your interest at keepwelladmin@health.scot.nhs.uk or for more information contact Jo Maclennan, Senior Health Improvement Programme Officer – Anticipatory Care on 0131 313 7534 or email jo.maclennan@nhs.net

15 March

11 March
Patient Information: Moving Beyond Leaflets - Patient Information Forum Fifth Annual Conference, Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham

Consumer health information has secured its place as a key element in the provision of high quality, patient-centred care. It's also a vital part of promoting health and wellbeing and preventing illness.

This, the fifth annual PiF conference, looks at the changes that are taking place in consumer health information and will help you to:

• Learn about current national policy on consumer health information and plans for the future
• Examine the Information Standard and have your questions answered
• Get an update on key projects like Information Prescriptions and NHS inform.
• Explore new ways of producing and disseminating information like social marketing and information centres
• Get practical tips on using technologies like SMS and online information.
  
  Download the flyer     Book online 

13 March
The Catherine McEwan Foundation Red Hot Ball, Thistle Hotel, Glasgow
Glasgow businessman Derek McEwan set up the Catherine McEwan Foundation in memory of his mum, who lost her battle against Crohn's Disease at the age of 38.
The Foundation is geared towards helping young people in Scotland with colitis and Crohn's and also works with the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease (NACC).

The ball is now in it 7th year and March 13th will be the biggest and best yet with entertainment from Tam Cowan, Big Vern and the Shootahs and The Clan Wallace, among many other others.

For further info on the Catherine McEwan Foundation, contact Derek McEwan on 0845 299 7877 and for more information on the ball see the flyer.

15 March

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence - How are local hospitals, nurses, dentists, doctors and other healthcare professionals regulated?
The Surgeons' Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
This may only be a question you ask when something goes wrong with your treatment or in the treatment of a loved one. You are invited to attend a meeting with the CHRE where you can meet some of the people who can answer this question and who are involved in making decisions that may affect your healthcare.

• Receive our report on how the regulators handle fitness to practise – ‘hot off the press’
• Receive a ‘complaints roadmap,’ which tells you where you can go to if you need to make a complaint about your healthcare – this is not available from any other source
• Find out who does what in delivering health services in Scotland
• If you need an osteopath, chiropractor etc. How can you check whether this person is registered to deliver your services? Find out about this at the meeting
• Give us your views to help us to make better policy decisions in healthcare
• Meet some of the people that make the policy decisions that may affect the quality of health services that you receive in Scotland.
  

This event is FREE to attend, but places are limited. For more information download the flyer and the programme and register by calling 020 7389 8030 or email reception@chre.org.uk

16 March
(N.B. Please book by 8 March 2010)
Dementia Strategy for Scotland

MacKinnon Country House Hotel, Kyleakin, Isle of Skye

The Scottish Government is giving priority to dementia and will be launching a Dementia Strategy for Scotland at the end of April 2010. The aim of the Strategy is to ensure the highest quality of care and support at every stage of the illness. This is an invitation for you to comment on recommendations to improve dementia services in Scotland.

If you have experience of dementia - as a person diagnosed, a family member, carer, or as a health, social care or housing professional – your views will be welcomed. This event on Skye is the last of five road-shows taking place across Scotland.

Come along to this event: To discuss the key recommendations for change in each of these topic areas. For people with dementia, carers (family members, partners and friends) to talk in small groups and ask "will these solutions work for us?" For staff who may have a responsibility for implementing the strategy to discuss issues for implementation and action locally. Please book by Monday 8 March 2010. To download a flyer and booking form, visit the Alzheimer Scotland website.

17 March
Cancer Link Aberdeen and North (CLAN) Ladies' Lunch,
Hilton Aberdeen Treetops
CLAN has a very special team of volunteers and the proceeds from this lunch will help fund the volunteer room in their new cancer support centre. For more information contact Debra Coe on 01224 647000 or email debra.coe@clanhouse.org

17 March

Annual Scottish Sexual Health Meeting

Stirling Management Centre, Stirling University

This event organised by Dr Gillian Flett and Ms Karen Innes on behalf of the Scottish Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health Committee is aimed at doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

The programme includes presentations on emergency contraception, success in the dispensing of emergency contraception, the HIV Action Plan, contraception for women with chronic medical conditions and menopause matters.

Registration costs £90 for doctors and consultants and £70 for nurses and other health care professionals. The fee covers registration, documentation, lunch, tea and coffee. Registration details are available by e-mailing kareninnes@nhs.net

20 March

Breakthrough Breast Cancer -Be the Breakthrough Event, Dunblane Hydro

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is Scotland's leading breast cancer charity and would like to invite you to our first "Be the Breakthrough Event".

This is an exciting opportunity to meet and hear more about our work from the Scotland Team and from our inspirational research scientists based in Edinburgh. Learn how to support the various aspects of all our work in research, campaigning, awareness raising and fundraising in an interactive and fun way.

During the course of the day, you can find out how to campaign to improve local and national services, be a fundraiser, be an advocate for breast cancer and even how to get your local press on board. Not only do we want to involve our important existing supporters, we also want to engage people new to Breakthrough. So please bring a friend and invite others you think may also be keen to support us.

We have an exciting day planned with some great speakers and we really hope you can be part of it. We anticipate demand to be high so please reply early to avoid disappointment.

To register your place please contact Ginny Hunter on 0131 226 0763 or email ginnyh@breakthrough.org.uk.  For more information, see the poster. Further information about the event will be sent upon registration.

Help us to save lives and change futures for people affected by breast cancer.

23 March

Diabetes 2010 and Beyond Knowledge Into Practice, Edinburgh Heriot Watt University Conference Centre, Edinburgh

In addition to a wide range of specialist clinical workshops on topics from patient education to glucose lowering drugs for type 2 diabetes, the SIGN guideline on management of diabetes and supporting documents will be launched, while the new Scottish Diabetes Action Plan, which lays out the blueprint for improving services in the next five years will be discussed. The results for the Scottish Diabetes Survey 2009 will also be published at the Conference and there will be an extensive exhibition of posters and displays from NHS and industry organisations focused on diabetes. Full details and registration are available on the conference website.

31 March

Managing Long Term Health Conditions "From consultations to action plans - who needs to be involved in the development of policies and practices?" Edinburgh

Chaired by Susan Douglas-Scott, Chief Executive, Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland. Keynote address by Jane-Claire Judson, Director, Diabetes UK Scotland.

Scotland‘s population is getting older and living longer, with more and more people trying to manage health conditions for which there is no cure.

At every stage of their condition - from the initial diagnosis to the increasing severity of symptoms, the gradual loss of capacity and the end of life care - it is essential that individuals are offered the social, economic, psychological, physical, and cultural support they need.

Our ability to get the self management of long term health conditions right is critical both to our health and to the ability of the NHS to cope with the constantly increasing burdens placed upon it. To achieve this, the Government's vision for developing a ‘mutual NHS' must become a reality and the conceptual shift from viewing patients as ‘service users' to ‘active partners' must become reflected in policy and practice.

This conference will seek to explore public engagement and ownership of policy development in the management of long term conditions. Through a series of round table discussions, delegates will be encouraged to:

• Reflect on how patients and providers are meeting the challenges of supporting long term conditions

• Assess how successful Community Health Partnerships and their LTC coordinators have been at engaging with their patient groups

• Debate how public consultations should be structured

• Examine the roles of voluntary organizations, patient's rights groups, Parliament and members of the public within this process

• Review recent consultations and attempts at public engagement, such as Better Diabetes Care, and evaluate which approaches have been effective and which have not

• Explore the legal and technical challenges involved in supporting self care of long term conditions

• Consider the potential costs in human and financial terms of getting this policy wrong and the significant benefits of getting it right.

If you have any queries regarding the conference or would like find out more information, please email: lmcclelland@mackayhannah.com

13 March

Human Rights & Health: making the connections, LTCAS Hub, 349 Bath Street, Glasgow

This Conference, organised by Voluntary Health Scotland, will focus on what we can all do to promote and support the human rights of people using health services in Scotland. Respecting and delivering the human right to 'enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health' can be a challenge - from service design to frontline delivery.

This Conference will provide a unique opportunity to:

• Gain a better understanding of the Human Rights standards and principles that impact on health services from home to hospital
• Become aware of how we can improve health services using a human rights-based approach, particularly at a time of financial cutbacks
• Review examples of good practice which can be replicated in the voluntary and public sectors
• The Conference will also discuss how the proposed Patient’s Rights Bill can lead to better and more responsive health services.

Speakers include:

• Duncan Wilson, Head of Strategy and Legal, Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Alastair Pringle, Patient Focus Manager, Scottish Government
• Cath Denholm, Director of Equalities and Planning, NHS Health Scotland
• Tressa Burke, Director, Glasgow Disability Alliance
• Members of Campaign Action Group of Glasgow Disability Alliance
• Carolyn Roberts, Head of Policy and Campaigning, SAMH
• Jatin Haria, Director, Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance
• Carole Ewart, public policy and human rights consultant
  
  Who should attend?
  
  

• Voluntary sector organisations including healthy living centres, community health initiatives and social care organisations
• Public sector organisations working in any area of health improvement or health and care provision
• Carers and members of the public are also encouraged to attend
  Conference venue

The Conference will be held on 13th April 2010 at the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) Hub, Venlaw Building, 349 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4AA.

Directions to the LTCAS Hub are provided at the back of the conference flyer / programme. To register for this conference please either fill out the registration form on the flyer and return to Voluntary Health Scotland or complete the online registration here.

11- 13 May 2010

2010 International Conference on Support for Self Management of Health,

Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling

The Alliance for Self Care Research is pleased to announce this conference which is being organised in conjunction with the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland and the University of Manchester’s National Primary Care Research and Development Centre.

Support for Self Management of Health is a top priority for every health system. It includes support for staying healthy, support for managing everyday symptoms and support for managing the impact of long term illnesses and disabilities on peoples lives. It involves people themselves, voluntary sector and consumer organisations, professionals working in health and social care and Government policy makers.

The 2010 International Conference will provide a forum for researchers, health experts and policy makers to meet and to discuss their work and its implications. The programme is designed for all those involved in support for self management around the world who want to discuss their work and learn from one another.

For more information, including a programme and registration, see the conference website.

1 June 2010
A Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome, Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow

Centre for Autism Practice is pleased to bring Professor Tony Attwood & Dr Michelle Garnett to Glasgow for this inspirational seminar on Asperger’s syndrome (AS) and higher functioning autism. The seminar will explore AS from the speakers’ extensive clinical experience and ongoing involvement in research and practice. A range of themes will be discussed from the pathways and processes involved in diagnostic assessment, to the manifestation of common difficulties and differences. In addition, the speakers will provide a host of practical strategies designed to minimise common difficulties whilst supporting personal development and fulfilment throughout the lifespan.

For more information, download the programme and booking form.