BSLM Newsletter November 2021
No images? Click here
Dear member,
First of all, best of luck to all those taking the lifestyle medicine diploma exam this month! We're confident your commitment to lifestyle medicine learning will help you to build the foundations for a successful and healthy future - for you and your patients.
Ensuring healthcare professionals have the knowledge and expertise to make a meaningful difference in our society is at the heart of everything we do. This makes you such an essential part of the BSLM journey - to reframe healthcare and improve health and wellbeing within all communities.
BSLM Chairman Dr Rob Lawson had this message for all those taking the exam:
“You have broken the back of your preparatory work for the exam at the end of the month but if you are anything like me you will still be thinking you have so much to get through. Don’t panic! As I have said personally to many of you, the exam is not easy but it is fair, so if you have prepared by completing all the pre-requisites you will get the result we all want for you. It may seem trite but actually so much learning takes place over the piece that the exam becomes the ‘icing on the cake’.
"You will already have been putting your learning into practice, and your great case studies pay testament to that.
"So, hearty good wishes for your exam and really looking forward to you joining our certified band of BSLM Diplomates who are doing such an important job of bringing the positive benefits of lifestyle as medicine into the lives of thousands."
We are also looking to broaden BSLM's education with our Learning Academy, which will be expanded on in this newsletter.
Finally, just a quick reminder to submit some of your stories (email the bslm office) if you would like to be highlighted in our upcoming Lifestyle Medicine Careers webinar next month.
And also a quick date for your diaries - the next Virtual Group Consultation webinar takes place on December 15th.
IN THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
- Get the latest update on our Learning Academy
- Lifestyle Medicine flyers
- BSLM release new video for the #1change campaign
- BSLM member webinar looks at creating healthy habits & making a positive step change from the negative pillar
- BSLM regional events update
- The BSLM blog: Health Inequalities
- Learn the importance of sleep
- 30 CPD hours BSLM Plant-Based Nutrition Course
BSLM Learning Academy
The BSLM has now established our Learning Academy which will deliver up-to-date, evidence based and interactive e-learning for busy health care professionals; seeking to bring to life a tangible method of delivery which recognises our passion to promote Lifestyle Medicine education.
Earlier this year we invested in this goal with the purchase of our own, bespoke Learning Management System, the software which not only provides us with extraordinary flexibility to build and offer high class courses, but also ensures that our learners will have an engaging, premium quality experience, guaranteeing a consistent look and feel to our courses which we know will work for our clinicians and health care providers.
After a period of implementation, where we have invested time to build the software to ensure that our offerings will provide that premium experience, we are delighted to update members with the news that significant progress has been achieved and that we will meet our objective of launching our Learning Academy in winter 2021/2022.
Ahead of the formal launch we have used the software to host an MCQ course, offering our diplomates the opportunity for practice ahead of the forthcoming IBLM Diploma Examination, a useful learning tool and additional benefit for BSLM Students.
The launch of the Learning Academy will be a significant milestone in the development of BSLM’s charitable aims. With this now in place we will extend our educational impact and forge new partnerships in several areas, including with universities and other aligned organisations.
We are now offering opportunities for BSLM members to be involved in course content creation and have established a clinical editorial group to ensure our courses are clinically relevant and use the most up to date evidence. Those interested in working with us in this regard should indicate their interest here.
Andrew Howie, Head of Growth and Development for BSLM, has been leading on the Learning Academy project and commented, “The development of the Learning Academy is a key part of the strategic development and growth that we have planned for BSLM. With the investment already made and the increase in capacity, we are committed to providing our members with a first-class learning experience including courses on covering the spectrum of Lifestyle Medicine and with contributions from experts within the field.”
Dr Ellen Fallows, BSLM Learning Academy Director adds, “we now have the teams trained, software designed and templates created to support large-scale production of courses that will equip practicing health care providers as well as students with what they need to understand and practice Lifestyle Medicine. I believe this is going to be one of a kind in the UK and I’m excited to get our first courses published and see the subsequent courses follow rapidly after. This educational provision is well overdue to help us provide better care for our patients; care that offers more pathways to health than just medications and surgery alone.”
Lifestyle Medicine Flyer
To help you raise awareness of lifestyle medicine and the transformative benefits it brings to the everyday lives of patients we have produced some posters for you.
Please feel free to print them off, share around your practice and help reach out and improve the impact lifestyle medicine can have in your community.
Together, let's try to reach out to those not yet familiar with lifestyle medicine and its growing influence on the health and wellbeing agenda.
The flyers offer a quick summary of who we are and what we do, as well as an explanation of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine.
What is your #1change?
Improving health and wellbeing through lifestyle medicine starts with #1change. Making even small changes can make huge long-term differences to your health.
From improving your sleep pattern to using standing desks, there are so many ways you can make positive changes to your lifestyle. Watch our latest #1change video above for some inspirational ideas from the BLSM community.
Please share your #1change with us and join our growing campaign to improve health and wellbeing #1change at a time. And keep an eye on our social media channels for more regular #1change content!
BSLM monthly member webinar
Our next member webinar takes place on Tuesday, November 16 and will explore two key lifestyle medicine topics.
Dr Adam Smith will be discussing the importance of building and maintaining healthy habits, while Dr Sue Smith will be providing insights into making a positive step change from the negative pillar.
The webinar, which is free to BSLM members, starts at 7pm and there's a chance to put your questions to Adam and Sue at the end of the session.
This newsletter contains images. Download them for the full experience
Lifestyle Medicine Latest News
Lifestyle medicine and the social determinants of health
In the UK, healthy life expectancy is stalling and inequalities are widening. So where does lifestyle medicine come in? And how do we ensure our evidence-based discipline reduces inequalities - rather than widens them?
For the BSLM blog this month, GP and BSLM Learning Academy Director, Dr Ellen Fallows, argues for a new approach, based on ‘3 principles of lifestyle medicine’. To be effective we need to combine the skills of lifestyle medicine with the knowledge (the six pillars) alongside a commitment to addressing the socio-economic determinants of health.
Read Ellen's blog on the socio-economic determinants of health
The life saving benefits of good sleep
The importance of sleep cannot be understated. It brings a range of benefits: improving our immune function, aiding our metabolism, enhancing our learning process and decreasing stress.
In the BSLM blog, Dr Sheena Fraser highlights all these benefits, while also pointing to how its key role in fighting COVID-19. Sheena's blog also outlines several ways a consistent sleeping routine can be achieved, with so many people struggling to optimise their own schedule.
Read it in full here.
Rediscovering the joy of movement
Also for the BSLM blog this month, Edinburgh-based GP Dr Suzy Scarlett shares some of her secrets for getting people moving.
We all know the benefits of physical activity but how can we motivate patients and rediscover the 'joys of movement'?
Suzy has found real benefits from using motivational interviewing and readiness assessments - and where she works is now a designated Park Run Practice.
Read Suzy's blog on the BSLM website and learn more about our new Physical Activity Special Interest Group which has been set up by Drs Alex Maxwell and Christopher Lutterodt.
Medical students create lifestyle medicine course
There's still work to do in embedding lifestyle medicine education into medical degrees in the UK.
So we were delighted to hear that three medical students took matters into their own hands this year and created a series of online lectures for students.
Polly Dunn, Harriet Taylor, Emer Chang and Orlaith Breen have written about their experience of running the course on the BSLM website.
Thanks to Dr Lois Brand (Associate Director of Clinical Studies at Oxford Medical School) and Dr Catherine Swales (Director of Clinical Studies at Oxford Medical School) and Dr Ellen Fallows BSLM Learning Academy Director for their support with the course content.
BSLM is working hard behind the scenes and collaborating with others to ensure LM is covered in undergraduate curricula going forward. If you’re currently studying medicine or healthcare and want to see Lifestyle Medicine given more prominence, reach to BSLM (office@bslm.org.uk) to see how we can support you.
Read more about the lifestyle medicine course for medical students
BSLM in Scotland: regional meeting this month
BSLM Edinburgh and Lothians have organised an upcoming regional event.
Find out more about lifestyle medicine and BSLM at the free event which takes place via Zoom ...
November 23 7.30pm BSLM Edinburgh and Lothians, Fife & Borders meeting. Register now
Contact the BSLM office via office@bslm.org.uk if you would like support to organise a regional BSLM event.
Marathon Medic podcast
BSLM trustee Dr John Sykes was guest on the Marathon Medic podcast this month.
John spoke on the podcast about what lifestyle medicine is, and the many health benefits of keeping active - and the role that healthcare professionals can play in promoting physical activity.
Plant Based Nutrition
8 week distance learning course - starts Dec 6th
BSLM has teamed up with the University of Winchester to offer an eight-week course in Plant Based Nutrition. The course is designed for health professionals who would like to incorporate evidence-based nutrition into their practice and will help you answer questions such as what is a healthy plant-based diet; how can it be achieved; and what are the benefits?
Plant Based Health Online
Virtual Group Consultations
Plant based health online (PBHO) is a CQC regulated lifestyle medicine healthcare service providing online support from a doctor-led team of healthcare professionals. There are currently still spaces available for colorectal, prostate and breast cancer groups. Plant Based Health Online uses an evidence-based diet and lifestyle approach to support patients living with common chronic illnesses and cancer. They are now running virtual group consultations for cancer survivorship, type 2 diabetes, weight management and other conditions. You can find out more about their services by visiting the Plant-Based Health Online website here
GIANT Health Event
9am, 30th Nov, 2021 - 5pm, 1st Dec, 2021 (in London & Online)
The GIANT Health event is "Europe's largest annual festival of health-tech innovation". Set to be their biggest event yet, hear from over 400 speakers and network with thousands of Europe's leading healthcare and technology innovators, hospital leaders, health-sector investors, and entrepreneurs.
You can attend either in person or remotely, with Early Bird tickets available now.
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.
Lifestyle Medicine in Clinical Practice
Until January 1st, 2022 (Online)
Online Digital CPD Course 2. Accredited for 10 CPD hours by BSLM. This course has been created for busy NHS clinicians to enable them to practice evidence- based Lifestyle Medicine with their patients. CPD which is inspiring and will help you to feel more fulfilled in your career.
How to create health - Building Back Together following COVID-19
While providing a monumental challenge for everyone, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven what communities are capable of when faced with adversity. Many healthcare professionals have witnessed this during lockdowns, with these communities working to keep everyone connected and with access to all their essential health needs. Now, it is important to look at how to 'Build Back Together' to come out of this pandemic in as strong a position as possible. Read more
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
It is pancreatic cancer awareness month in November and one of the many cancers that needs a month dedicated to raising awareness of its effect is this cancer. It kills 1 in 4 people within a month, with survival rates remaining unchanged in the past 50 years. With a one-year survival rate of just 19%, a diagnosis does not provide much cause for optimism as it has such a quick and devastating impact. However, a few people do survive as they are diagnosed early enough for surgery, so it becomes so important to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms. Read more
Tackling health inequalities
Tackling health inequalities must be a fundamental priority for the NHS, a new briefing by NHS Providers has concluded. The briefing, produced for NHS Trusts, says the NHS has prioritised finding solutions to health inequalities - both by ensuring people have equitable access to health services and any avoidable differences in health outcomes are tackled. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the steps still needed to address the problem, with many of the worst affected coming from the most disadvantaged societies. Read more
