2009 Annual Convention Review

October 2009

The Annual Convention for The British Chiropody & Podiatary Association & The SMAE Institute members
2009

Well what can we say, after all the hard work over the years and taking note of the various feedback, from our members and traders, we have just had what is no doubt the best Convention we have held so far. And that is despite everyone saying we are in a recession and no one is paying money to attend these events. It just shows you want an excellent, high quality event we put together and how it is appreciated by all those who know to attend. Members, who attended the Convention for the first time, were delighted it surpassed their expectations and never before realized what a great educational event it actually is. So much so that they will ensure they will be attending regularly in the future. So if any of you reading this have not been before, do get your booking in next year, as the Convention is an ideal place to enhance your knowledge. It is a value packed day and half event consisting of seven intense lectures, coupled with extensive 20-30 exhibition stands offering the latest products at great prices.

Obviously, we appreciate no event will be a success without a good number of delegates and traders attending, so we thank everyone who joined us this year and hope to see you all again next year.

This years exhibitors offered an array of stands, with some rather good offers, and one particularly kept many enthralled by the live demonstrations of pulling limbs and crunching bones in accessing the fit of a new orthotic range.

Some who exhibited this year were:
AC Medical Ltd
Bailey Instruments
BES Rehab
British Chiropody & Podiatry Association
Brosch Direct
C & P Medical
Canonbury
Chiropody Express
Cosyfeet
Cuxson Gerrard
DB Shoes
DL Townsend & Son
Footessentials
Galderma
Hilary Supplies
M & A Pharmachem Ltd
Mobilis
Open College of Podiatry
Plinth 2000
Podiacare
Schulke & Mayr
Talar Made Orthotics Ltd
Typharm Dermtology
Unitronics
Wellow Books
Three Counties

Our sincere thanks to all the Traders who graciously gave prizes for this years Benevolent Fund raffle. This was gratefully appreciated.

The BCPA Benevolent Fund is run independently from The British Chiropody & Podiatry Association and The SMAE Institute. Its function is to support members during extreme difficult times, and its running relies purely on donations. This raffle raised at this Convention £701.00.

With the excellent facilities and ease in travelling to The Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, we are returning to this venue next year. Particularly as it has good accommodation, and the exhibition areas all in the one building, along with plenty of parking. Details of dates etc will be published next year.

The lectures offered contained information for everyone, regardless of their level of expertise. We thank the speakers for giving their time in attending and sharing their knowledge with us.

This years speakers were:

Janet McWhinney – Associate Solicitor at Berrymans Lace Mawer London – Specialises in Clinical Negligence Law
Subject: See you in Court! – it won’t happen to me will it?
Janet also spoke at the Summer School, but varied and updated the lecture to the Convention members.

Professor Steve West Bsc, MPodA, FChs, MIPEMS
Educational & Podiatric Consultant, Vice Chancellor of University of the West of England
Subject: The future of Private Foot care

Dr Sue Barnett PhD, MSc, BSc(Hons), SRCh,
DpodM, MChs Senior Lecturer University of the West of England
Subject: Foot Pressures & Foot Mechanics

Jonathan Thomas – Podiatric Specialist in Diabetes, The County Hospital Hereford.
Subject: Non Medical Prescribing – Get it right.

Stephen Pinning – FSSCh, DipPodMed, MBChA
Subject: ‘Let There Be Light’

Nigel Tomlinson – Principal Scientific Advisor
for the Department of Health Estates & Facilities
Subject: 2009 Update on Risk Control & Guidance on Autoclaves Decontamination.

Andrew Hill Bsc (Hons)
Subject: A Guide to the causes & treatments of Plantar Fasciitis.

A valuable Continual Professional Development event each time.