Programme

​10.30 When Illness Strikes During Training

Dr Damien Longson, Head of the School of Psychiatry in the North Western Deanery

Dr Peter Graves, Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Local Medical Committees

November saw another well attended AGM with a full programme of events that lasted until early evening. The day was essentially split in two with an informative morning session and a practical, lifestyle after-noon session. Dr Damien Longson, consultant psychiatrist and head of psychiatry in the North Western deanery talked about issues with ill health during training. His talk was followed by another morning session in which Dr Peter Graves, Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Local Medical Committees talked about what happens when illness affects GPs. The afternoon session was subsequently a more laid back affair. We had a talk by Dr Fleur Appleby-Deen from Healing Doctors on the eclectic mix of tools she uses in supporting doctors; including basic yoga and nutritional advice. Dr Stephen Eckersley, a retired consultant psychiatrist from Australia, gave the next talk. Amongst other interests he is a practitioner in mantra based Christian meditation and Zen training in mindfulness meditation (under the master Thich Nhat Hanh). He provided brief instruction through two simple to access forms of mindfulness meditation that was very much needed! There was then an incredibly useful talk by Dr Declan Fox, introducing some of the key benefits of CBT, and how this could practically be introduced on a daily basis. Finally, we had an interesting, and surprisingly rewarding session on African Drumming by Malcolm Smith that concluded an entertaining, informative and fulfilling programme. Specific thanks must go out to Dr Alison Holt, our secretary, for organising the whole day... including a rather nice buffet for lunch!

Sadly, this AGM saw Fiona Donnelly, the chair of DSN for the previous few years stepping down. Her commitment to DSN and how far she has brought us forward over the last 5 years has been quite remarkable, and she will be sadly missed in this role, although she will be staying on the committee. In her stead, Angelika Luehrs, the former vice chair, was unanimously voted to the position of chair, and we wish her well for the future in this role.

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The current executive committee was otherwise re-elected without incident and we received a new member in Dr Louise Freeman, who wasted no time by taking on the role of vice chair! Her enthusiasm and passion for the role will be an asset to DSN.