Congress report 2008
Released on - 17/12/2008
The South West team has experienced a very eventful year both personally and professionally and it was a real treat for the whole team, Stephanie, Irene, Lesley, Sally, Allison, Mandy, Nicky, Russell and Louise to all attend the annual AfPP Congress in Harrogate this year, along with three South West competition winners.
Each team member had a memorable time and left North Yorkshire with their own story to tell on return to their various workplaces and homes in the South West region. This is just a taster of the highlights experienced in the busy week.
There was cause for great happiness during the week with two team members celebrating their birthdays. Louise was the first and Irene’s special 60th birthday resulted in a glass or two of ‘your finest’ being raised with presents opened to commemorate the momentous occasion at the team meeting held at the Majestic Hotel. More excitement in Irene’s week was receiving the President’s award from Jane Reid, and a special personal birthday mention in the after dinner speech at the dinner dance later in the week. Irene has had a very testing and challenging year making the week at Congress all the more poignant.
Lesley worked her usual magic during her time in Harrogate as the team PR and Industry link person. She networked and socialised in her own inimitable way to secure help and support from the industries present for our future study days, so much so that we hardly saw her all week! Mandy worked her socks off in her red polo top as an AfPP Congress Helper, busily clicking in delegates to the various lectures and showing them the way round the busy complex.
Russell was a congress speaker this year. His talk, in the beautifully new renovated Royal Hall was about the extended role of the Peri-Operative Healthcare Assistant and raised some very interesting debate during question time at the end.
Stephanie appeared to spend the entire week either looking for or supplying to others, something to wear! Nicky was on a mission and managed to visit every stand in the exhibition before any of the rest of the team to obtain more help and contacts for future regional study days. She also managed to spend time on one of the stands promoting recruitment for the Foundation Trust in Bristol that she works for.
Sally and Allison were both award winners this year and collected their certificates at separate presentations in Harrogate. Sally has been part of the 3M AfPP Academy, a unique personal development programme advancing excellence and improving patient care. She collected her award in front of the assembled audience in the Queens Suite, yet another emotional experience for the team as Sally received the award in memory of her mum….not a dry eye in the house.
Allison was delighted to be chosen, earlier in the year, as one of two volunteers to accompany Friends Of African Nursing (FoAN) representatives sponsored by Mölnlycke, to go to Africa next year and be involved with the teaching programme of African theatre nurses. She received her award on the Mölnlycke stand from Kate Woodhead, Trustee of FoAN.
Apart from all the usual frivolities, congress allowed the team members to go to lectures and workshops to update and motivate for the coming year and contribute to the South West Team to continue its success as one of the top AfPP regions…a great week…..roll on next year.
Allison Faulkner
Editorial Lead
South West Region Team.