THE RCGP Annual conference celebrates the giants of general
practice: Ann McPherson is honoured with the first eponymous inaugural lecture facilitated
by the RCGP Adolescent Health Group.
I gave a brief introduction reminding the audience of Ann’s
breath of interests which traversed the lifespan; from women’s health , to
young people’s health, patients’ illness experiences to end of life care; with
the common thread being her innovative ideas and challenge of the orthodoxy.
We invited Sir Al Aynsley-Green to give the first lecture
and he delivered a thought provoking talk which threw down the gauntlet to the
audience asking : what do you do for young people in your practice? He confronted
the reality of young people’s health often not being a priority in an adult
centric world and invited GPs and practice staff to consider what they might do
differently; with a special mention of the impact of losing a parent before
adulthood.
The talk was concluded with a reminder of the exciting new direction
of travel which is being led by the RCGP Adolescent Health Group: our fantastic
new project with AYPH, funded by DH, which will see the creation of 10 regional
GP Champions in England; the imminent launch of Youth Mental Health as a clinical
priority and the delivery of a One Day Essentials conference next Spring covering young people’s health and
supporting the professional development of GPs in this important but often unaddressed area of clinical practice.
Watch the blog for further updates!
Best wishes
Jane Roberts
jane.roberts@sunderland.ac.uk
