BSLM Newsletter April 2022
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Dear member,
We are already into April and with this, one month closer to BSLM 2022. Very soon we will be announcing the speakers that will be talking all things Lifestyle Medicine in London. First however, there are a few important updates and points to let you know about from the past month.
The Early Bird tickets are up and available to purchase. They offer a £100 discount on the non-member and a further saving on normal price tickets, until 6th June, so make sure you get yours now!
You can also check out the event accommodation through our website. We have worked closely with partner, Reservation Highway to provide preferred rates on local hotels for those looking for accommodation for the duration of BSLM 2022. Due to the limitations of accommodation in the area, we’ve also included a few additional direct options on commuter routes, which you may find helpful. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, also share links for accommodation on their website.
We also wanted to remind anyone registered for 2022 certification through BSLM, that attendance at our annual conference is the best way to obtain your 10 hours of in-person Lifestyle Medicine specific CPD.
Spreading the Lifestyle Medicine message...
It is highly important to continuously raise awareness of Lifestyle Medicine and it's evidence-based approach to reducing chronic illness. Regional Director Reeta Karamchandani is certainly spreading the message with activities in her region. This begins in schools, targeting the foundation phase. She attended a careers conference planned for pupils from year 9 to year 13 at a local senior school and offered to speak about healthcare.
"I planned my talk around my journey from Medical school, post-graduation then GP training which included chronic disease management.
I explained that after about 10 years of diagnosing and treating illnesses, supporting people with Lifestyle related chronic diseases as a GP. How I discovered BSLM and the Lifestyle medicine movement in 2018.
I shared with them how Lifestyle medicine movement and association with BSLM has enhanced my knowledge and opened up the field of prevention of diseases, promoting health and wellbeing and the concept of personalised care.
They were fascinated by Lifestyle medicine and the 6 pillars! We talked about importance of sleep, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, resilience and a purpose in life."
Reeta also helped host a fabulous entertainment group from Birmingham and Preston, speaking about lifestyle (celebrations and festivals), Lifestyle Medicine and BSLM.
"I tailored my talk to suit all age groups and abilities, demonstrated some spices, different types of legumes which triggered some discussions around culinary medicine. We talked about the pillars of Lifestyle medicine as described on the BSLM website. We also touched upon social prescribing and what is available locally"
Being able to encourage Lifestyle Medicine practices at an early age is crucial to building its integration into society and ensuring it can continue to reduce chronic illness across our communities.
We are always grateful for BSLM Members that bring attention to Lifestyle Medicine and our organisation in any capacity, as it highlights what we want to accomplish within the Lifestyle Medicine community. Do you have something to share with us? Get in touch!
Diplomates: Maintenance of Certification 30/04
We’re so chuffed to be able to now be able to offer an alternative to re-certification here in the UK. We’ve come so far since our first Diplomates went through certification and we’re so grateful that they’ve worked with us to create a maintenance option that offers UK context and will focus on how lifestyle medicine is being delivered more locally.
The articles and MCQ’s for 2022 are live and Diplomates have until 31st December this year to complete. This is a first for us and we welcome your feedback as we grow. For those that haven’t yet registered, a reminder that you have until 30th April this year (as a result of the transition) but going forward, deadline will be maintained at 31st March each year.
IN THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
- Group Consultations Training Programme (Funded)
- Stress Awareness Month
- Chronic Pain SIG Part 2
- Lifestyle as Medicine - Changemakers
- Register for April's webinar
- Join the Prehabilitation and Woman's Health Special Interest Groups
- Catch up on the latest lifestyle medicine news, including new blog releases
- Get the latest NHS Network news stories
Member Opportunity:
Group Consultations Training Programme (Funded)
If you’re working within the Trafford PCN (North Trafford, Trafford West, Altrincham Health Alliance, Sale & South Trafford, you could get involved.
BSLM Partner, Group Consultations Ltd are running a GC training programme within the Trafford CNG in June and we’d love our members to get involved. More info to follow but interested parties should reach out to info@groupconsultations.com (reference Trafford CCG Group Consultations)
Stress Management Trainer Course
Saturday 30th April | 10am - 4pm | Online
It's Stress Awareness month and this month is the last you can sign up for the Stress Management Trainer Course! Stress is a well recognised cause of many chronic physical health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Understanding the warning signs of stress on our physical and emotional health and taking active steps to manage our stress levels could prevent long term health consequences.
Chronic Pain Special Interest Group - Part 2
Following on from the excellent evening with Dr Deepak Ravindran and Dr Meera Tewani, the BSLM Chronic Pain SIG invites you to their second webinar. Alicja Wypasek a BSLM diplomate and Functional register nutritionist with UKVRN will talk about how to utilise nutrition to help manage chronic pain and Dr Barbara Phipps a BSLM trustee and GP will discuss how to manage chronic pain in primary care using a Lifestyle Medicine approach.
Lifestyle as Medicine - Changemakers
As a Lifestyle as Medicine Changemaker, we invite you to capture your healthy everyday #1Change story, on your smartphone.
We have had an amazing response so far, with lots of changemaker clips to be collated into a collective film series, which will be premiered and screened at the BSLM annual conference 2022 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
The focus of the clips fall in to 3 key themes: Mental Wellbeing; Health Equity; Managing, remitting & reversing disease
Find out more about how to become a Changemaker and join our movement via the button below.
REGIONAL/PUBLIC MEET:
North East Scotland - Social Prescribing
Thursday 28th April | 7pm | Location: Online on Zoom | Open to public
Our next regional meeting, hosted by North East Scotland Regional Directors Adaeze Ifezulike and Julie Gray, takes place over Zoom on Thursday 28th April at 7pm. Members, and those interested in learning more about lifestyle medicine, are invited to join us live on the evening.
10th March was National Social Prescribing Day and Dr Alex Maxwell, BSLM’s Social Prescribing Director, share’s more on this topic and how its sustainable, person-centred approach can benefit patients, health and social care professionals as well as communities. He’ll also be on hand following his presentation, to answer and questions you may have.
April Monthly Webinar
*Stress Management section of webinar is subject to change* You will be made aware of any changes made to the lineup
You can sign up for the latest BSLM webinar, set to take place on Tuesday 19th April at 7pm. A reminder these webinars provide 1hr of CPD.
Emily Jenkins will be talking to us about the benefits of incorporating movement into care. Meanwhile, in national sleep month, what better than having Dr Sarmila Sinha will be exploring stress.
Our webinars are a great opportunity to get to network with others in similar professions, roles and regions and generally to know you're not alone in fighting chronic disease and the potential lifestyle medicine brings.
You can register via the button below.
Vacancies: Special Interest Groups (SIG)
BSLM value specialist expertise to guide the work of the Society and convene a Special Interest Group (SIG) structure to provide an evidence-based resource for members. BSLM is also considering the creation of Prehabilitation and Woman's Health Special interest groups. Should this be an area of interest, please do get in touch.
If you have a special interest and/or expertise in either of the above areas, we'd love to chat. You would be responsible for creating and documenting best practice and creating resources to prepare health professionals on LM for social prescribing and schools / adolescents.
Anyone interested in any of these groups should reach out to us at office@bslm.org.uk
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Lifestyle Medicine Latest News
Swim England relaunch health fact sheet for swimmers
Swim England, a BSLM Aligned Organisation, has recently relaunched its swimming with health conditions fact sheets to support social prescribing discussions with patients and raise awareness on the benefits of swimming in local communities.
The fact sheets are intended to help break down some of the misconceptions swimmers and non-swimmers might have, providing useful advice, do’s and don’ts, top tips to encourage swimmers to maximise the potential benefits from being active in water.
A reminder, we're also looking for a Swim England representative - get in touch if you're keen.
Read the full news piece here.
How to have a successful Career in Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle medicine is at the core of health and wellbeing. Many doctors are gravitating towards this health promotion, disease prevention, disease reversal practice. But what does a career in lifestyle medicine look like and why is it becoming so popular?
Medic Footprints have taken a look at Lifestyle Medicine and what a career in the field could look like. There are so many options within Lifestyle Medicine, therefore ensuring these choices are made available to everyone is crucial.
Read here.
Building public understanding of health and health inequalities
The Health Foundation have released a new long read exploring how to improve the publics' comprehension of health and the inequalities that exist within healthcare.
This new report reviews the government policies that attempt to address the risk factors of ill health and premature death, pointing to the need of a coherent long-term strategy to solve these issues.
Read more.
Ultra Processed Foods Special Webinar massive success
The Special Edition IANE & BSLM Webinar on Ultra Processed Foods was a huge success. Thanks to the excellent speakers as well as to all of you for your active participation.
If you were not able to attend the webinar or would like to watch it again, please find below the links to access the recording:
If you are a BSLM member, you can watch the webinar here.
If you are an IANE member, you can watch the webinar here.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that if you are a member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, you are currently entitled to a 50% discount on the International Academy of Nutrition Educators membership fee.
Huge success for Lifestyle Medicine Journal
The Official Lifestyle Medicine Journal (for British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, European Lifestyle Medicine Council, Korean College of Lifestyle Medicine and Sri Lankan Society of Lifestyle Medicine) has seen its first seven issues published. Spearheaded by Editor-in-Chief, Dr Fraser Birrell, the peer-reviewed open access journal has received a great reception.
With downloads in 188 countries and 42k full text downloads in 2021 (320% increase on 2020), it has seen a huge increase in popularity, highlighting the rising interest in Lifestyle Medicine. The Forthcoming editorial will be on embedding Lifestyle Medicine in Curricula next issue April 2022.
Access the journals here.
GP Contract Updates
NHS England have released documentation that supports the implementation of changes to the 2022/23 GP Contract that applies in England.
This details: GP Contract 22/23 financial information; Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES); Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) changes for 22/23 and QOF guidance; Weight Management Enhanced Service 22/23; General practice pay transparency.
Read more here.
Nottingham academic appointed NHS lead for prescribing
Last month Professor Tony Avery, OBE, was appointed as the inaugural National Clinical Director for Prescribing with NHS England, with the aim of tackling the overprescribing issues.
It is highly significant that these figure amongst lifestyle medicine have prominent roles throughout UK healthcare. The importance of highlighting desprescribing and the role lifestyle medicine plays cannot be understated, which points to the success this appointment brings toLifestyle Medicine (as health professions and society),
Learning Academy Free Members Course:
As you may have already seen, BSLM last week launched our very own Learning Academy, a learning management system designed to provide immersive learning for lifestyle medicine.
This launch is just the beginning, as there are huge plans to expand and improve the content that the Learning Academy offers. This starts with you, as we are offering all BSLM Members the first course "Lifestyle Medicine: An Overview" for free. We would love for all of you to engage in this course and provide your initial feedback, which will inform future course development as we define the “look” of BSLM courses.
You should have received an email from us detailing how to access this free course, so check your inbox. If you have not received it, email office@bslm.org.uk under the subject line "Learning Academy Overview Course" and we will help you access it.
The Learning Academy is a significant step forward for BSLM and forms a key element of our future growth and development plans. It also establishes BSLM as a major player in the Health Education field, and is a sign that BSLM as an aspirational organisation continues to grow and develop its influence and outlook.
Reset your Health
Until May 5th, 2022 (Online)
Reset Your Health is an informative and individualised online programme which equips the user with evidence-based nutritional advice and the practical skills they need to eat healthily. Using a detailed ingredient-based algorithm RYH provides recipes personalised to an individual’s food preferences, dietary requirements and health conditions helping reverse health conditions caused by lifestyle.
Afternoon Tea with Docs
Every Sunday at 5pm (Online on Zoom)
Join Dr Linda Mizun and Dr Erica Lin every Sunday for relaxed and educational health and lifestyle medicine discussion aimed at health professionals and the general public.
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Looking after our primary care people - coaching support
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Show your passion and spread the word with #1Change Merchandise!
Check out our range of #1Change merchandise we have on offer and support our organisation in reframing healthcare! The hoodies, t-shirts and vests available in store are perfect to show off at BSLM2022
