ALAMA Autumn Conference, 18-20 November 2009

Conference programme
The ALAMA Autumn Conference; Raising the Standard is a key event in the Occupational Health calendar. It provides the opportunity for occupational physicians to gather new ideas and information and update clinical knowledge as well as the chance to network with experts and key contacts within the profession.

Wednesday 18th November
10.00	Registration
12.00	Lunch
12.50	Welcome – Chair Tok Hussain
12.55	Exhibitor Profile: Vitalograph
13.00	Defence Organisations and the OH Physician: Medical Indemnity and Protection Dr Nick Clements, Head of Medical Services (Leeds) MPS The challenges in achieving fairness and security in members’ subscription rates – a general overview with specific OH examples.
13.50	Questions and answers
14.00	Clinical Governance Charlie Vivian, Director of Quality, NHS Plus NHS Plus is a network of NHS OH Departments. A governance system is being developed, to help improve quality, and to meet the Faculty’s accreditation standards.
14.50	Questions and answers
15.00	Coffee
15.20	Mediation, the New Process and Recommending Interventions Philip Johnson, OH Specialist, Artemia In light of the increasing role of mediation in the employment process this session will outline of the process of mediation, its place in current legislation and assist in identifying situations where mediation is appropriate and may be a positive process, even helping achieve medical improvement.
16.00	Ethics Update: Confidentiality and Consent Jacques Tamin, Medical Director, Company Health Ltd Does a worker have to give consent for a “fitness certificate”, having already consented to the process? Is it “confidential medical information”? These issues will be debated from an ethical perspective.
16.50-17.45	Open Discussion – Consent and Confidentiality: The New GMC Guidelines

Thursday 19th November
09.00	Anxiety and depression: Risk Markers, Effective treatments and Rehabilitation Solutions Stephen Pereira, Medical Director - The London Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Centres, Consultant Psychiatrist, Capio Nigtingale Hospital, Hon Snr Lecturer, Guys Kings and St Thomas Hospital Including fitness for work and ability to attend disciplinary/dismissal meetings.
09.50	Questions and answers
10.00	Coffee/Exhibition
10.20	Exhibitor Profile 3
10.25	Hypertension and its Relevance to Work Ifti Haq, Consultant Cardiologist, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The relationship between hypertension and work-related factors is examined, in particular occupational stress and job strain – the combination of high job demands and low job control.
11.10	Questions and answers
11.25	Improving Work Outcomes – The New Medical Statement Bill Gunnyeon, Director for Health Work and Wellbeing, Department for Work and Pensions An update on the new medical statement due to be introduced in April 2010 and the contribution it will make to improving work outcomes for people with health conditions.
12.35	Lunch
13.25	Exhibitor Profile 4
13.30	The Effectiveness of Drug and Alcohol Testing in Reducing Injuries and Accidents in the Workplace: A Systematic Review Anne Trakoli, SpR in Occupational Medicine, HealthWork Ltd
14.15	Stress in the workplace: A Case Study Stephen Pereira, Medical Director - The London Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Centres, Consultant Psychiatrist, Capio Nigtingale Hospital, Hon Snr Lecturer, Guys Kings and St Thomas Hospital
15.10	ALAMA’s New Website John Sorrell, Webmaster ALAMA Following 18 months of development it now features many new elements including editing facilities, a search engine for the library and online membership database management.
15.40	Coffee/Exhibition
16.00-17.30	Breakout Sessions Current Issues for: Fire: 42 or not 42? UK F&RS Aerobic Fitness Standard Differences Zahid Iqbal, London Fire Brigade Police: A Polemic on the Psychology of Risk Assessment... or ...Travels with my Kayak! David Bulpitt, Essex Police Local Authorities: Teachers Pensions – better evidence Noel McElearney, Head of Pension Medicine, Atos Healthcare and Jeff Rogerson Pay & Pensions Team DCSF. – Please indicate which session you will be attending on the booking form: Fire, Police or Local Autorities
19.30	Conference Reception and Dinner

Friday 20th November
09.10	The Application of Psychology to Occupational Health Paul Flaxman, Director, Organisational Psychology Dept, City University An insight into worksite psychological skills training and the results of recent public sector (NHS, central and local government) research into employee recovery.
10.10	Coffee
10.30	Legal Update Diana Kloss, Barrister Eminent barrister and specialist in employment law, Diana Kloss will give an update on current legal issues. Followed by an open forum for delegates’ questions.
12.30-12.45	Closing Remarks Tok Hussain, Chair ALAMA.
	NB. Programme subject to confirmation

ALAMA 2009 Autumn Conference, 18-20 November 2009