How is AfPP and its membership influencing perioperative care?
Dawn Stott (DS): AfPP has around 8,000 members throughout the UK and overseas. It accounts for around 30% to 40% of all nurses and about 10% of operating department practitioners working in theatres. The knowledge and expertise of our membership is our greatest resource and we continue to harness that knowledge and enthusiasm to bring about real change in the perioperative arena by influencing healthcare decisions, commenting on research and producing publications that support the environment. Our membership covers all areas of the perioperative environment which means we have a massive infrastructure of knowledge and expertise to call on – as and when required. Our aim is to determine standards and promote best practice in perioperative care; facilitate education and practice development; provide advice to practitioners delivering perioperative care; share information and ideas among practitioners in perioperative care, and pharmaceutical and medical device companies; and act as a consultative body on perioperative care and practice to Government departments and other public and private institutions. AfPP has proven particularly influential in driving forward the patient safety agenda and we have reported progress in a number of areas, such as:
• Implementation of the surgical site check list.
• Membership of the national clinical safety board.
• Obstetric patient care consensus statement in liaison with the College of Operating Department Practitioners and Royal College of Midwives.
• Publication of a theatre support tool kit providing advice to perioperative practitioners relating to relocations of sterilising services.
• Joint event at Congress promoting non-technical skills for perioperative practitioners.
How does AfPP influence standards of care in theatres?
DS: Our flagship publication “Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice” is invaluable to the theatre environment. Our 2007 version is currently under review with the new edition being launched at Congress. This will be the first opportunity to review the changes and updates to standards which will include references to the new HTM A and B, and the Endoscopy HTM. We work collaboratively with other healthcare organisations, such as the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), Infection Prevention Society and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCoS), to deliver on Government initiatives – including the WHO checklist and many other initiatives.
How does AfPP influence healthcare agendas?
DS: We hold regular meetings with the Chief Nursing Officers and we take the views of our membership and the results of research as a benchmark to shape the agenda for these meetings. This influence allows us to convey the views of our membership directly to the key influencers. Government and healthcare bodies consult with us regularly on a variety of topics and we are generally able to include the views of our members into our responses to these agencies.
What changes are there at AfPP?
DS: Our goal is to build on the extensive hard work we have already achieved to enable us to adapt to the economic environment, the changes within the NHS and restructures. We have streamlined our head quarters team to ensure we have a “fit for purpose” work force, with the right skills to ensure we continue to grow our reputation. As part of this focus, I have taken over responsibility of managing director and my goal is to mould and shape the future of the association. We have formed an alliance with the Royal College of Surgeons which runs a multi-professional course. AfPP has agreed to fund one member of the association, to gain the knowledge and skills required to join the “skills team”, to help facilitate the focus of participants on the non-technical skills required to work in theatres. We also have a new non-elected Trustee who joined the team in January 2010 – Judith Oliver, who brings a wealth of experience around charity governance and fund raising to the board, as she has spent most of her working life in the notfor- profit sector, and is currently business development manager of a large domiciliary care agency. She founded the Association of Carers (now Carers UK) and served a five-year term as the Secretary of State for Health’s lay representative on the UKCC. We have also taken a pragmatic view that everyone has been experiencing tough times and, therefore, our membership fees should remain static with the same level of benefits being available.
What is new at this year’s AfPP2010 Congress and Exhibition?
Joanna Ripley (JR): We are most definitely speaking up about AfPP2010 – there is a lot to shout about. It is the event’s 46th year and there are two distinct offerings for everyone working in the perioperative environment: a two-day medical device exhibition that showcases the best products and services currently available in pre-, intra- and postoperating environments. In addition, Congress is a three-day educational conference featuring:
• Over 20 specialist sessions.
• 25 master classes.
• A whole range of non-clinical learning featuring critical topics such as bullying and harassment, and a full day’s workshop on team working as part of our human factors training.
The event provides excellent continued professional development, enhanced learning and networking opportunities to enable delegates to meet up with old colleagues and establish new contacts, share best practice and discuss new ideas. We have recognised the need to make significant changes to this year’s event, including a major structural change by including a Saturday in our timetable. Membership feedback was the major factor behind this decision as we are hearing more and more about the challenges of getting leave from the workplace during the week. The second major change will be that the Congress and the exhibition will open on the same day enabling all delegates and visitors to enjoy the same benefits of the exhibition. We are also announcing the AfPP Innovation Awards – there will be five awards for medical device innovation within the perioperative marketplace, including the award for Best Overall Innovative Product in 2009. In addition, any product brought to market within the last three years with proven innovation and excellence within “anaesthetics”, “general surgery”, “patient safety” or “infection control”, will qualify for the other four categories. The competition is open to exhibiting companies only and awards will be announced and presented at the awards ceremony and charity concert on the evening of Thursday 14 October. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance will also be in attendance at this fundraising event.
Who are the featured speakers?
JR: Dr Phil Hammond will be our opening speaker on Thursday 14 October. His session “Difficult Discussions – Speaking Up/Speaking Out” will take an in depth view on why we find it so hard to make our voices heard. This session will be followed up by a “Difficult Discussions – Some Practical Tips” seminar with Martin Bromiley of the Clinical Human Factors Group.
How big is the AfPP exhibition this year?
JR: The exhibition has been repositioned as an opportunity for innovation and excellence on the show floor. We are proud to have over 125 exhibiting medical device companies this year with seven headline sponsors: 3M, Arizant, Carefusion, Ethicon, Swann Morton, Anetic Aid and Ruhof/Peskett Solutions – all leading brand names in their respective fields of expertise.
What will the special Congress event on the Saturday have to offer?
JR: Tough times see us all working collaboratively to achieve our individual association aims and to promote our joint objectives for best practice and safer surgery. We are delighted to welcome the National Association of Assistant Surgical Practitioners (NAASP) to Congress this year. Its one-day AGM and conference track will be hosted on Saturday 16 October. Sir Stephen Moss will be delivering the “Mid-Staffordshire: too close for comfort” session. A complete overview of the situation and where the Trust currently stands will be provided, while there will be discussion of the lessons that need to be learned and how such failures can be prevented from happening in other Trusts.
What else do I need to know?
JR: Recognising the difficulties for annual leave, sponsorship and budgets for all potential delegates we have made much needed changes to our Congress delegate rates for AfPP2010. The package prices are now inclusive of all available sessions, food and beverage and selected social events for best value all round. Enclosed in this issue of The Clinical Services Journal, there is also a competition application form to win a luxury package to AfPP2010. Even if you do not win the main prize, all entries are guaranteed to receive an exhibition ticket and a coffee voucher to be redeemed on the show floor during the event.