In honour of Dr Ann McPherson

We have all been saddened to  hear of the death of Dr Ann  McPherson who passed away on May 28^th.

Ann, along with Drs Chris Donovan and Aidan Macfarlane, was a Founding Member of the AHG and her vision and passion lie at the heart of our group’s raison d’etre. She has inspired us all and her inspiration will continue to guide us for as long as the group is in existence.

Ann was a consummate communicator and only 2 weeks ago was  awarded the  'BMJ Communicator of the Year Award'

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/111905.html.

Ann’s legacy was extraordinary. She has left us  http://www.teenagehealthfreak.org (in collaboration with Dr Macfarlane) and was the co-founder of DIPEX: the charity of Oxford University Department of Primary Healthcare  Health Experiences Research group (with pharmacologist Andrew Herxheimer).which now features  2,000 people stories and information on over 50 conditions.  The project’s website has a sister site http://www.youthhealthtalk.org and  I had the pleasure of contributing to the specific research project exploring young people’s experiences of depression, a project benefiting from Comic Relief money and Ann’s indefatigable drive.

Hugh Grant was her one of biggest fans and in March she was on TV with him to mark the 10^th year  anniversary of DIPEX.

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/julienrath/5529201255/in/photostream/

Motivated to share her own experiences of two diagnoses of cancer Ann contributed her own personal stories to show others they were not alone through DIPEX.

Most recently, Dr McPherson created the group Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD) which campaigns for greater patient choice at the end of life, including the option of assisted dying subject to legal safeguards.  [http://www. hpad.org.uk/ ]

We will be preparing a fitting tribute to the central role Ann has played in the Group’s history and will continue to play in its future, and I will keep   you posted on the website.

My thoughts are with her family who must be feeling bereft.

Yours

Jane

Welcome to the RCGP Adolescent Health Group Chair's Blog

Welcome to everybody reading this newly launched blog.
My intention is to keep you posted on the activities of the RCGP Adolescent Health Group (AHG) as they occur and to invite your participation.

Young people's health has to be  a key priority  in primary care as we nurture the next generation, promoting their healthy development into the resourceful individuals we will need them to be. Adolescence has always been, and will always be, a time of transition, of new and exciting opportunities but also of uncertainty and challenge.
I believe there is much we can foster in General Practice to support young people's healthy development and the RCGP Adolescent Health Group can play an important role as advocate. The group has a long history of supporting practice's wanting to offer youth-friendly care and we are currently working on a number of initiatives; steered by Dick Churchill our past Chair.

 I would like to thank Dick for his long commitment to the group and for the legacy he leaves. I will continue to keep you posted on the progress of the initiatives which include the provision of  new teaching material and guidance re confidentiality in consultations.

I look forward to leading the group into the next phase of its history and welcome your support.

Best wishes

Jane Roberts