The theme of the day will be “The Ageing Workforce – Challenge or Opportunity?”.  During the morning Dr Shane Tellam – Consultant Occupational Health Physician will be speaking to us about Occupational Issues of an Ageing Workforce.   We are delighted that Dame Carol Black will be delivering 2 sessions,  the first session on The Fit Note and managing individuals back to work, and the second  on the relationship between health and work within the ageing workforce.  The afternoon will include a Cardiac update from a Cardiac Specialist Nurse, and an OH/HSE update from Janet Hensey from the Health and Safety Executive.

The day promises to be an excellent event, so please support our first South West Occupational Health Nurses’ Group Study Day, by coming along and helping to make the day a success. We are looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

This year we have decided to open up the morning session to our colleagues from Human Resources, therefore we would be grateful if you could forward the details of the Study day to the HR departments within your companies.

For further details see 2012 SPRING STUDY DAY PROGRAMME and 2012 Spring Study Day Application Form.

Booking forms need to be completed and returned to Alison Presswell (Treasurer) no later than Thursday 3 May 2012 to secure your place.

Following the vote at last year’s AGM, Associated Healthcare Practitioners (AHPs) who wish to join the Society of Occupational Medicine can now apply for 2012 membership online.   Occupational health nurses, physiotherapists, ergonomists, occupational hygienists, psychologists, research scientists, occupational therapists, toxicologists and epidemiologists who hold a professional qualification, are able to join the Society from January 2012.

There are two categories:

Affiliated membership – a full membership that entitles AHPs voting rights and to all benefits including our peer reviewed journal, Occupational Medicine, CPD, regular electronic newsletter, regional groups and an extensive member’s only section on the website.

Associate Status – this is not a formal membership but allows attendance at CPD meetings and provides regular updates of the latest news in occupational health via the electronic newsletter.

Full details of all the benefits and how to join are available here: Membership

The aim is that by widening the membership we will be able to facilitate closer working relationships, greater understanding and effective communication between professionals working in occupational health. The Society hopes that this partnership approach will be of benefit to all members and provide opportunities for inter-professional learning. It will also give us greater influence with Government and other organisations. More importantly it will increase our ability to protect and improve the health of people of working age.

Kind regards

Ms Hilary Todd

Chief Executive

The Society of Occupational Medicine

Hamilton House

Mabledon Place

London

WC1H 9BB

Tel: 0207 554 8628

We will be contacting you soon for your suggestions as to how future CPD events could be arranged so as to make them attractive and accessible options to members.