Realising potential

The Association for Perioperative Practice’s (AfPP) annual Congress and Exhibition - 8 -11 October 2007, Harrogate International Centre - is the largest Congress and Exhibition for perioperative practitioners in Western Europe. Over 5,000 people come to the picturesque North Yorkshire town of Harrogate for an action-packed week of debates, networking, lectures, workshops and exhibition viewing. Perioperative care is an increasingly complex discipline and AfPP’s Congress provides the top opportunity for those working in this environment to keep abreast of developments.
    
The Congress is full of educational, professional and clinical issues that will be discussed using state of the art equipment and top speakers in the purpose built Conference Centre. This year the Congress title of ‘Realising Potential’ reflects the growing professional development opportunities available to all perioperative staff offered by AfPP.

Come to the drum cafe
Our Opening Session introduces Drum Café – a motivational session where individuals in the audience work together using african drums to produce a drum orchestra. Drum Café started in 1966 in South Africa and has grown quickly. The group has drummed with accountants, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, sheep vets, fig scientists, prime ministers, two American presidents and three princes.
    
Some of AfPP’s keynote speakers include: 

• Mike Lindley, Yorkshire Air Ambulance – Trauma Management

• Kevin Barron MP – ISTCs: value for money?

• Jennifer Rabach, International Federation of Perioperative Nurses – Perioperative nurses: an Australian perspective

There will also be sessions on leadership and team building, infection control, role development for healthcare assistants and preoperative assessment.

Festival of Surgery in Primary Care
Congress 2007 sees a new venture for AfPP – the 1st Festival of Surgery in Primary Care. Patient care is now undertaken in a much wider variety of settings than some years ago and AfPP’s annual Congress is changing to reflect this. The 1st Festival of Surgery in Primary Care is solely aimed at those performing surgery in the Primary Care setting.
    
Sessions will include an overview on decontamination issues, surgery in Primary Care, use of bench-top sterilisers and practical workshops on sharps safety, hand hygiene, suturing, patient positioning and draping.
    
Key speakers include:

• David Colin-Thome, National Clinical Director for Primary Care

• Dr Raj Dhumale, President of the Association of Surgeons in Primary Care

• Jayne Elton, Practice Nurse of the Year 2002.

Speaking about the event Mr Colin-Thome said: “Care closer to home will mean more Primary Care-based surgery in the future. Threat or opportunity? I recommend this conference to you to find out how planned surgery can be local safe and of high quality.”
    
The 1st Festival of Surgery in Primary Care takes place at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire on 10 and 11 October 2007.

The Exhibition
Supplementing the Congress is the Exhibition which is the biggest event of its kind in Western Europe. The Exhibition is spread over four halls and over 150 companies are exhibiting this year – a sell out. Companies will be demonstrating products at the cutting edge of medical technology with computer generated simulations and many new devices to study.

Free workshops
AfPP will be running free workshops in the Exhibition during Congress week. These hands-on workshops will cover bone cement mixing, diathermy and smoke evacuation, gloving, drapes, sharp safety and swab count among many other topics. The workshops are pitched at a level suitable for the complete novice or the more seasoned professional who wants a refresher on their skills. The workshops run on every day of Congress week except the Monday.

Working in partnership
Many of the sessions at Congress are developed in collaboration with AfPP’s partners in the healthcare arena. This year AfPP has worked with the following organisations to produce a comprehensive programme of educational sessions:

• British Association of Day Surgery (BADS)
• National Network of Clinical Procurement Specialists (NNCPS)
• Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (AAGBI)
• Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc)
• Association of Surgeons in Primary Care
• Association of Surgeons in Training.

Social events
AfPP’s social programme helps delegates make new friends and reacquaint themselves with old ones. There are three major social events. These start with the Delegates’ Welcome Evening hosted by the Exhibitors on the Monday. The Congress Gala Dinner is on the Wednesday with a live band until late and on the Thursday is the AfPP evening.

Registration
There are various ways to register. In all cases it is well worth registering in advance. This will avoid queuing and ensure that you receive information about Congress in advance of your trip.
    
To register online visit www.afpp.org.uk and click on Congress 2007. The Congress section will give you details of the programme and accommodation information. Alternatively contact AfPP on 01423 508079 and request an application form or write to AfPP, Daisy Ayris House, 6 Grove Park Court, Harrogate, HG1 4DP.
    
All student members are entitled to attend AfPP Congress free of charge in the first year of their membership.
    
The Exhibition is free to anyone and pre-registration is recommended via the website at www.afpp.org.uk in the Congress 2007 section. This will ensure that you receive a badge in advance. Arriving with your badge will ensure that you receive your handbook and make a speedy entrance into the event. Again, registration forms can be requested from AfPP on 01423 508079.

Congress registration
Sunday 7 October    3pm to 6pm
Monday 8     8am to 4.30pm
Tuesday 9     8am to 5pm
Wednesday 10      8am to 5pm
Thursday 11     8.30am - 1.30pm

Exhibition registration
Tuesday 9 October    8.45am to 5pm
Wednesday 10      8.45am to 5pm
Thursday 11     8.45am to 12pm

For more information
Phone: 01423 508 079
Website: www.afpp.org.uk