World Orthopaedic Concern UK

Minutes of the General Meeting

Policy Weekend held at Blackpool on Saturday 10^th May 2008

Present :  

C. Lavy-Chairman, D. Boot- Deputy Chairman, S. Wood- Treasurer, H. Robinson –    Minutes Secretary, S. Newton- Membership Secretary, M. Beverley, N. Davis, M. Lawrence, S. Mannion, Luke and Lis McSweeney, K.R. Ratham

Apologies:

B. Earley, R. Gardner, M. Greiss, P. Offori-Atta, R. Owen, J. Parker, B. Scammell, N. Slater

Chairman’s Report:

• In Malawi medical standards continue to degenerate and local doctors leave. Some encouragement in that trainees from other COSECSA countries have joined.

• A visit to Niger showed a very poor country with minimal facilities, no involvement of WOC is envisaged.

• A new theatre has been donated to Malawi - £65,000 from Beit.

• A training programme in Ilizarov technique is to be held in Malawi, funded by JRI at £1500.

Treasurer’s Report:

• Draft Annual Statement to year ended 5.4.2008 – tabled, details explained.

• Statement of Accounts @ 5.5.2008 – tabled; monies for Cambodia will be spent soon.

• Suggestion that the Woubalem funds should be used for Paediatrics Orthopaedics journal subscription or go to the Ponsetti ‘funds’. Dr. Woubalem to be consulted.

• Suggestion that the accounts be simplified to reduce numbers of designated accounts.

• Discussion regarding Interest Account.

• Thanks were given to Anita & Steve for the service to WOC over the years.  

Overseas Reports:

                Cambodia:

• Secretary/co-ordinator to oversee activities. Nurse Training Programme – nurses from up country will come to the centre for further training. It is hoped to extend this to theatre training. Provincial Surgeons Training – surgeons from the best provincial hospital for further training. Orthopaedic ward is very crowded; RTAs have increased recently. Another ward is to be built. Quality of leadership on the ward – surgeon and senior nurse have difficulties. Volunteers for training of provincial surgeons and nurses required.

• Over £40,000 raised towards the work at a cost of £1000 to WOC plus other funds from D. Boot by Dan Ozarow.

                Ethiopia:

• Building work has interrupted any development within the department. Mike Lawrence will go out very shortly. Now operating 3 days per week, six consultants are teaching for more hours but a lack of commitment from the students has been noted. The Department has managed  to take control of the National Rehabilitation Centre. Orthopaedics Overseas are about to withdraw from Ethiopia – volunteers from America will be managed by Doctors for Africa (Australian). Short term volunteers are more easy to recruit; there are great problems with longer periods of absences for trusts.

                Ghana:

• Motec UK – a charity to support visits form UK specialists.

                India:

• Raja Ratham visits an area in rural India with Spanish surgeons. Orthopaedics is being concentrated on identifying and doing soft tissue surgery for handicapped children. Bone surgery has not been developed due to problems with infection.

                Malawi: 

• John Cashman is in place for three years. SpR visits continue. Lilongwe- some optimism, Norwegian Government has donated equipment; Norwegian surgeons visit. A designated Paediatric Orthopaedic Theatre will be built in the near future. Great opportunities for both work and teaching.

                Mpumalanga:

• Another Orthopaedic Consultant will join Ken Rankin in October. He then expects to concentrate on the out-reach hospitals where there is a very great need for teaching and orthopaedic surgery. A pallet of books- including a whole series of bound copies of the JBJS- has been received with great glee- the hospital of Nelspruit has just arranged a designated room as the ‘Resource Centre’ so the arrival is well timed. Some volunteers are booked for the coming year but more are needed. Ken has asked if H. Robinson will return next year for Plaster Workshops and general, basic orthopaedic training.

                Nigeria:

• Laos, Ibadan, Karno orthopaedic units visited by G. Walker. The surgeons are keen; want visits from specialists and requested donations of equipment- ‘Oil Money’ does not filter down to their units! G. Walker would like to write to ex-Nigerian colleagues requesting visits.

                Zambia:

• FlySpec workload continues to increase- graphs covering the development will be on the website soon – and the involvement of the Post-Graduates is welcome on both sides. A report from Dr Shumba is offered (website – soon). Examples of the workload covered during H. Robinson’s visit were quoted. There is a continuing need for tutors for the Post Graduate Programme. The two M. Med Orth. Graduates in Lusaka are developing well as Consultants are training to take over the FlySpec work.

Membership Secretary’s Report:

• Handbook publication delayed due to lack of full details.  326 members, 230 replied to questionnaire, some resignations were proffered. Membership database is now available.

• Suggestion that email should be used to recruit more volunteers. HIR to act as editor for regular email appeals.

Website Manager’s Report:

• Needs updating regularly. Much refreshment in basic design noted.

Equipment and Books:

• Warehouse manager unavailable. ‘Useful List’ to be published on the website. System of ‘Wants’ and ‘Available’ would be useful if it could be arranged and published on the website.  H. Robinson will be spending some time in the warehouse sorting/boxing/cataloguing. The catalogue will go on the website. ‘Aids to Hospitals Overseas’ will collect, sort &dispatch equipment at minimal cost. Email info@a2hw.org.uk. Address: PO Box 603, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 9DF. (See also AOB).

Eyre Brook Medal:

• Dr Nyengo Mkandawire proposed by WOC(UK). Consider Dr Rajasekaran in future years.

SICT/WOC International Meeting:

• Appeal to be made from the SICOT Foundation to publish the Newsletter. A subcapita levy from each region should be justified before being agreed to. E-mail copies of the newsletter requested with notification to NHS people of availability to the website.

List of Funding Requests:

• Zambia FlySpec £3000.

• Ghana for Motec UK. Lilongue – container.

• 2 applications for Gauvain & Wilson funding.

Eponymous Lectures:

• Lippman Kessel – no further funding. Lecture to lapse.

• J.N. Wilson Lecture- C.Lavy suggested as the next lecturer.

Venue for Policy Weekend 2009:

• Suggestion to combine with an Introductory/Orientation Course for those considering service overseas. Restrict the agenda to topics of interest. WOC specific topics to be put on the agenda for the executive. 

• To be in Manchester- Naomi Davis will arrange for May 9^th/10^th 2009. Invitations/publicity via the BOA. Sponsors to be sought e.g. Furlong/JRI. Suggested one day of Country Presentations and Orientation Course. Second day policy discussions (WOC members only) followed by Executive Committee Meeting.

BOA Meeting Liverpool, 2008

• Executive Committee meeting morning, prior to the AGM. General session on Different Modes of Treating Trauma. Steve Mannion to chair the session.

BOA Combined Meeting, Glasgow 2010:

• Afternoon session [WOC(UK)] Suggested speakers: Lew Zirkle, Nancy Kelly, Representative from Mercy Ship, Prof. Jagedesh, George Anderson. Chairman to liaise with Nigel Clay.

AOB

• Bryson Fund – Bryson family to be approached for permission to divert these funds to Nigeria.

• Newsletter – Mike Lawrence requests articles for further additions.

• WOC stand – D. Boot may not be able to attend the Liverpool meeting. Other ideas welcome. Flyer for Manchester w/e, with application form to be available. C. Lavy to provide more copies of the promotion leaflet.

• Durbin Plc – another firm with redundant equipment. www.durbin.co.uk