Committee & Core Group Updates


Education & Training DR SHELDON COOPER, Chair of Education and Training Committee The new look E&T committee this year have made progress in a number of areas. Our joint symposium with BPNG at BAPEN annual Conference in Harrogate was well attended with stimulating presentations from Dr Richard Beale, Intensive Care Consultant; Emma Graham-Clarke, a Pharmacist with PN background and, more recently, intensive care; and an original communication from Kevin Whelan, et al. The symposium finished well with an engaging debate between Dr Tim Bowling and Dr Trevor Smith attracting the votes from the audience to err on the side of PN or enteral nutrition in an intensive care scenario.


The BAPEN accreditation process is under re-development and has attracted a lot of


external interest this last twelve months. Many excellent symposia have been accredited by BAPEN (via the committee) which also raises funds for BAPEN. The subject of accreditation leads well into the strive towards BAPEN engaging in provision of a nutrition qualification. Rather than create a new postgraduate qualification that would compete with many excellent courses already in the UK, we are joining forces with BAPEN Medical in delivering ESPEN Life Long Learning (LLL) to the UK. The live modules for this diploma have only been available in mainland Europe, making it almost impossible for this to be attained by British nutrition professionals, despite many online modules. BAPEN Medical have produced several live modules at their training days over


the last few years and some have become accredited, with more on the way. Together we will aim to be able to provide much of the curriculum in the UK in the coming few years. The final part of this report may require your help! As you may have heard we are producing BAPEN guidelines, due for initial release in November. The format will be based around ‘decision trees’ with an aim to be practical and for everyday use, but based on quality evidence base and good clinical practice where evidence is lacking. There is much expertise out there, and many excellent existing guidelines that can be referenced and ‘hyperlinked to’. The committee may well ask you for your help, which will be of great value. We look forward to your enthusiasm.


News from PEN Group - Supporting excellence in nutritional care


KATE HALL, Communications Officer PEN Group


We are now coming to the end of a very busy year for PEN Group. We have seen the launch of the PEN


Group email address peng@bda.uk.com and the much anticipated launch of the Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition; congratulations to all of those contributors and Vera for making this possible because it is a huge amount of work but equally so important for clinical practice; the two winners of this year's PEN Group Award were announced at the Late Summer PEN Group Summer meeting in November; a proposal was drawn up for the improvement of the member's section of the PEN Group website: www.peng.org.uk; plus the successful Clinical Update Course ran in 2011 and new dates have been set for 2012 being released – page 14 for more details; if this is not enough, those joining PEN Group from March 2011-March 2012 will be eligible for a free copy of the updated Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition. Below is a brief summary of some of the other news this quarter: • Autumn PENlines – now available for PEN Group members on the member's section of the website: www.peng.org.uk


• Vera Todorovic stood down from being Chair of the PEN Group at the November AGM, and on behalf of PEN Group members and the PEN Group committee, I would like to thank Vera for all her hard work in driving the PEN Group and helping us be what we are today. We are really pleased that Vera, as Vice


11 BAPEN In Touch No.63 January 2012


Chair, will be able to support Anne Holdoway in her position as the new Chair of the PEN Group; and to this effect we also welcome Anne into her position as Chair and Sarah Ragoo as the Honorary Treasurer (previously Vice Treasurer).


• PEN Group Late Summer Study Day – Emma Forsyth organised a fantastic study day for both PEN Group members and non-members which celebrated the launch of the Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition. The importance of these PEN Group study days was recognised by the fantastic attendance rate and also the feedback that we received – members will be able to see the results from the evaluation and presentations from the study day on the member's section of the website. Look out for next year's PEN Group Study day soon to be announced for Oct/Nov 2012.


• BAPEN Conference 2011 – we had our PEN Group stand and promotion of the Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition, and promptly ran out of Pocket Guides which again just demonstrates the popularity of and need of this guide for clinical practice. We also gained a number of new members and some great ideas on how to improve our activities for members.


• PEN Group Website – following feedback from the online survey monkey we are in the process of updating our website and more news will follow in future editions of In Touch.


• PEN Group Membership – How can dietitians become a member of PEN Group? PEN Group membership renewal or annual subscription remain unchanged this year £20 inc. VAT and also entitles you to receive a FREE copy of the newly updated Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition launched at the late Summer PEN Group meeting November 2011. Being a PEN Group member offers dietitians many benefits including:


– Subsidised rates at the PEN Group meetings and the Clinical Update Course


– Subsidised rate for the Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition (and free updates)


– Clinical Meetings at reduced price for members


– Reduced cost of BAPEN membership, plus dietetic representation at BAPEN


– Min 2 copies per year of PENlines – electronic update


– Abstracts from meetings and clinical reviews – Access to the PEN Group membership section of the website www.peng.org.uk – currently being updated to make it more interactive for members and meet members needs


– Facility to ask fellow PEN Group members their best practice or advice through the membership email address


– CPD opportunity to serve on the committee or work with them on individual projects For dietitians wishing to become a new PEN Group member or renew membership, please go to the PEN Group website: www.peng.org.uk or contact the committee: peng@bda.uk.com


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