1. Message
from the President |
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It is a pleasant privilege to take up the presidency of the Medical Society as it approaches it's centenary. I hope very much that members will give their
support during the year and we shall endeavour to arrange a varied programme with plenty of interest and entertainment. It was most encouraging to have such
a splendid turn out for the first meeting when Mrs. Betty Park, a local historian,
read extracts from Berrow's Journal, selecting items of a medical interest from the late 19th
century. So much has changed yet many of the problems are similar to those we
experience today.
For the next meeting, on 31st January, we have as a guest speaker Mr. Michael Fish from the BBC weather centre. He has agreed to speak on "how our weather comes to us" and promises to leaven the technical side of forecasting with plenty of anecdote. We hope the decision to bring a well known person will attract a large audience.
The annual dinner will be on Friday 5thJune at Spring Grove House which has been a popular venue for some years. We have invited an after dinner speaker of considerable ,reputation and are confident of a splendid evening.
The other definite Summer function is the cricket match between consultants and GPs to determine who will hold the John Russell Cup for the next year. The date is not yet fixed but will probably be in early July. Depending on the popularity of these events, other social functions may be arranged.
John Wilner
The Society has for many years, changed very little. As we approach the centenary, perhaps we should have a good look at what we are doing and maybe involve ourselves in an updating exercise. As you probably know, at the last annual general meeting it was agreed to set up a centenary sub-committee which subsequently first met in November 1991.: One of the suggestions at that meeting was that, communication within the society could be greatly improved and with the centenary not far away, this would be a good time to act on this deficiency It was therefore decided to start an occasional newsletter this is the result and I hope you find it interesting and informative.
Graeme
Wilcox
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PLANS FOR THE POSTGRADUATE CENTRE
The postgraduate centre was built in 1971 when there were 27 hospital doctors and 29 general practitioners.
Twenty years on, with about 80 hospital doctors and 55 surrounding general practitioners it is sorely stretched,
especially on a Monday, for conference, catering and dining facilities.
Less than half of the 136 membership responded to a questionnaire agreeing to covenant, but many non
respondees when telephoned, were however willing to make a small monthly contribution.
Final plans have not been made but when the recession and general election is behind us it is hoped to
approach members and industry for a modest expanded forum in time for the Society's centenary in 1993.Plans for the proposed extension are on display in the postgraduate centre.
Walford Gillison
Most members assume that the society is simply an organisation for holding social events. This is, inf
act, totally erroneous. Initially set up as a political organisation "to combat the abuses of
the Medical Aid Associations", it rapidly became a learned, clinical and social organisation with regular
postgraduate meetings - latterly held in the out patients waiting hall at Mill Street Hospital, plus the occasional
dinner. When the Postgraduate
movement came into full swing in the late 60s it was the Medical Society that raised the funds for the building of the
Postgraduate Centre. The centre is now run by the executive committee elected by the society. The trustees,
probably shortly to be very busy again, are answerable to the Society, and all Monday meetings are Society
meetings. The Society (via the postgraduate tutor) is the licensee of the club - hence permitting the
occasional liquid refreshment. Besides all the above, there are the meetings which are at the
specific request of the president and which most think of as being the only society meetings.
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CURRENT TOPIC - FUND HOLDING
After a lot of effort - one has to ask -why did my partners become fund-holders ?
Have we achieved anything? We joined the scheme for a range of reasons. The idea of 'purchasing' public health
care may become the norm within the NHS (and in many other western countries). We
felt that GPs could buy a small part of their patient's care and take decisions at least as
well as an administrator. The 'purchasing rules' will need major changes and ordinary
GPs should have a voice in shaping the system that emerges.
Fund-holders met well known problems. We faced administrative difficulties and fierce criticism from colleagues. A change of government could end the scheme at anytime.
We have surprised ourselves though by coping with the rigorous accounting
procedures. Despite popular misconception, the region has set very tight budgets but the
fund-holders in Kidderminster have managed to buy more treatment for their patients. We
hope that we have done this without lowering the income of the local hospital or
disadvantaging the patients of colleagues. Will it all work? My partners' position
is one of sceptical pragmatism rather than enthusiasm. We shall see !!
Frank Morgan
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
At the October AGM, the main subject of discussion was the extension of the Post
Graduate Medical Centre. Cheaper plans had been produced but there was still the problem
of raising the money, particularly during a recession. Although meetings previously had
shown strong support for an extension, not all members were convinced that it was needed
and canvassing of members about their ability to contribute showed rather more
luke warm support. Members will be approached again about this. David Bradey handed over the
presidency to John Wilner. David Starkie became the treasurer in place of Olaf da
Costa, who became vice president. Wendy Kingston took over as minutes secretary from
Tim Wadsworth and David Malcomson continued as secretary. In taking over the presidency, John
Wilner said that the Medical Society fulfilled a very important function outside medical
politics. It was a prototype post graduate society. For nearly a hundred years it had
brought Kidderminster doctors together and had fostered good relations between consultants and GPs. It was important, in
these times, to keep it going.
Tim Wadsworth
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Dr. A. A. (Red) Walker was voted an honorary member at the last AGM having recently retired from
the Aylmer Lodge Surgery. Red.s first career was in the Royal Navy as a
Sub-Lieutenant during the War from 1943 to 1946.After the War, he entered medical school at Durham
and graduated in 1953 at the age of 29.After a few years of wandering, including
being a registrar in Dermatology and meeting and marrying Mary, who was a ward sister a Birmingham
General, Red joined the practice of Jordan, Price and Aylward as a locum in 1963 and became a partner on
the death of Dr. Jordan. At that time, the practice was in Church Street and Red was, to a large degree, the
prime mover behind the transfer from Church Street to Aytmer Lodge in 1969. Red's greatest interest is cricket and he is on
the committee of Warwickshire Cricket Club, which will keep him fully occupied for many years to come. We
wish him a very happy retirement.
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CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
KIDDERMINSTER 1992
Continuing Medical Education appears to bethriving in Kidderminster with good attendances at
postgraduate centre meetings. A young principals
group is active and there has been good support for audit meetings. There has been a very encouraging
response to an initiative to develop a consensus forthe treatment of asthma in children. So what is new for1992 ?
Spring term has 15 meetings, six of these have been approved for a course on preventive
medicine. Audit workshops will enable practices completing projects to present their findings and lead
to discussion. Hopefully, joint practice projects may be fostered.
There will be follow up meetings on the treatment of asthma in children with a discussion on
prophylaxis. Our first meeting explored patient education and the recognition and treatment of the
acute, severe asthma attack. The conclusions reached will be used as criteria for asthma audit and the
preliminary results presented at the audit work shop. The Summer term's programme has been
arranged and approval will be sought for a course in
general medicine. New regulations, recently introduced, will allow practice based education meetings for 5 or more
practitioners to be approved without the need of an outside resource. I hope that you will enjoy the programme of
meetings and look forward to seeing you.
Baron Mendez Da Costa
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