Our Clinical Lead Physiotherapist Laura Jennings is an AHP Council Representative for the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM). And following a successful roadshow the scene has been set for the next conference in Harrogate next month.
Laura was elected in January 2018 after being put forward by Dr Scriven (SAM President) and Dr Crossland (President Elect).
Here in her own words is Laura's journey so far...
It was a great honour to be put forward and elected and I have loved my time so far.
Although it has been a steep learning curve, I have learnt so much and have been really supported by my other Council Members. The conferences are really interesting and informative and it has been wonderful to promote AHP's not only through presenting breakfast sessions with the Nursing Council Representatives, but also by our first SAM AHP & Nursing roadshow which we held on the 9th July in Stoke.
The roadshow was a great opportunity for nurses and AHP's who work in Acute Medicine to network together, learn more about each other's roles and what AHP's and Nurses are doing up and down the country. One of the presentations informed attendees about ACP roles especially those recently acquired by AHP's.
For me, it was a great opportunity to attract more SAM AHP and Nursing members, encourage conference attendence and also feedback the work the SAM AHP Network Group (SANG) are currently doing including blurred boundary competencies, research and benchmarking exercises into frailty/ medicine.
Feedback post roadshow was very positive and we will be hosting another AHP and Nursing SAM Roadshow some time next year at a different location.
Our next SAM Conference is in Harrogate on 10/11th October. This time it includes a medic and non-medic integrated programme, including high profile speakers from both specialities.
As the event is almost local, I really hope to see more AHP and Nurses representation at the Harrogate Conference. I will again be leading the Friday Breakfast session with Sarah Henry the SAM ACP Council Representative (Harrogate). If you are attending, I hope to see you there!
Personally I would like to thank my managers Deb Wolfe, Anthony Dawson and Jenny Lydon for supporting me with this exciting role and Dr Scriven and Dr Crossland for putting me forward.
If anyone would like more information on becoming a SAM member, the Conferences, or the SAM AHP Network Group meetings which are held 3 monthly via teleconference please don't hesitate to contact me at laura.jennings@cht.nhs.uk or you can find me on twitter @sam_ahp.