Education and Events

9 May 2024 at 7:30 pm

Beat the Drop: The Role of Empagliflozin In Protecting Adults with CKD

Dr Albert Power
Consultant Nephrologist

Dr Power is a Consultant Nephrologist at the Richard Bright Renal Unit in Southmead Hospital, Bristol and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol and Imperial College London. He graduated from Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge and completed nephrology training at the Hammersmith Hospital, London. He was awarded an MD in Nephrology at Imperial College London and remains active in clinical research with a special interest in end-stage renal disease, dialysis and cerebrovascular disease.

Learning objectives.

• Review the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on adults and the healthcare system
• Discuss current management of CKD in clinical practice
• Review data from the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including subgroup analyses
• Discuss key actions to support CKD diagnosis and management in primary care

16 May 2024 at 7:30 pm

Varicose Veins (including venous ulcers) their Causes, Patient Complications, and the Logic for Treatment

Mr Omar Abu-Bakr
Consultant Venous Surgeon and Phlebologist

In this lecture we discuss:

1) 10- 35% of adults have a form of venous insufficiency (not spider veins which are the beauty thing), and 4% of people over the age of 65 years suffer from venous ulcers based on the last numbers published by the American Venous Forum.   In a country like the USA, about 4 million working days per year are lost because of venous related illnesses.

2) Unfortunately, although a big percentage of the population suffers from a form venous insufficiency, it is one of the most misunderstood and mistreated conditions in medicine.

3) More than 90% of leg venous ulcers are curable if treated properly. For that, solid knowledge and correct understanding of the pathophysiology and the logic of treatments, is essential.

6 June 2024 at 7:30 pm

Child Sexual Abuse

Dr Nwanneka Sargant
Consultant Adolescent Paediatrician at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Forensic Medical Examiner at the Bridge Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Bristol

This session will explore the scale and magnitude of child sexual abuse (CSA), and child sexual exploitation (CSE), the importance of trauma informed care and how this is delivered in those who have disclosed CSA.  I will discuss communication; giving you the knowledge and confidence to speak to children and young people about sexual abuse – covering what to say and what not to say following a disclosure.  I will give practical tips on managing acute cases in practice and will close by sharing some useful resources.

13 June 2024 at 7:30 pm

‘Keeping the Heart Pipes Clean’ – Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease

Dr Amardeep Dastidar (MBBS, MRCP, PjD, FESC)
Consultant Cardiologist, Litfield House Medical Centre

Dr Dastidar is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at the Bristol Heart Unit (UHBW) and in Southmead Hospital (NBT), and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Bristol. He graduated in 2004 and completed cardiology training at the Severn Deanery, Southwest England. He was awarded a PhD in cardiology at University of Bristol. He is the cardiology lead for research, audit and rehab at NBT and is currently principal investigator for various multinational cardiology research trials. He was also awarded the Fellow of European Society of Cardiology for his academic achievements.

‘Keeping the heart pipes clean’ – Prevention of coronary artery disease

• Overview of coronary artery disease and the global impact
• Primary prevention of coronary artery disease and the latest evidence on early detection (Emphasis on CT coronary imaging and Cari-Heart analysis)
• Discuss the management of early coronary artery atheroma
• Secondary prevention: Post ACS Care in clinical practice
• Review the latest literature and Post ACS guidelines: lipid control, blood pressure, heart failure and anticoagulation
• Post ACS clinic pathway and long-term follow up in primary care

20 June 2024 at 7:30 pm

Lipoprotein(a), what is it and what to do about it

Paul Downie
Consultant Chemical Pathologist Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Bristol Royal Infirmary

There has been recent increased attention to lipid management with an aspiration to reduce CV deaths forming a big part in the NHS long term plan. Recent attention has rightly focussed on striving for lower LDL-Cholesterol in our patients, given a variety of new therapeutic agents have become available in recent years. This lecture will revise lipid lowering therapies and provide practical advice as to how to use these therapies together in everyday practice. 

However, many patients continue to experience further cardiovascular events despite achieving desired LDL-C targets. Increasing attention is therefore focussed on how we manage residual risk. Some of this residual risk is attributable Lipoprotein(a). This talk will discuss lipoprotein(a), outline what it is, why it is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, whether we should be measuring it and discuss clinical trial data on the effect of lipid lowering therapies on lipoprotein(a). 

27 June 2024 at 7:30 pm

An Update on Genomics and Genomic Testing in the UK

Dr Karen Low
Consultant Clinical Geneticist

Genomic testing is now accessible as part of standard care in the NHS.  In this overview I will provide an update on how genomic testing is delivered in the NHS currently and will highlight the relevance to general practice.

I will also provide some highlights in rare disease genomics and introduce some innovative studies currently running in the UK.  Additionally, I will share a few clinical vignettes to highlight some of the complexities of genomic testing and will allow plenty of time for questions and discussion.