National Conference and Annual General Meeting

Prioritising epilepsy: who decides?

Saturday 13 June 2009 9:30am to 4:00pm
Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

Booking has now closed

For 2009, Epilepsy Action’s prestigious National Conference and Annual General Meeting is returning to the north. In the shadow of the stunning Millennium Bridge, the event will be held in the luxurious Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. It’s the perfect venue for insightful presentations, and a chance to rub elbows with some of the major names in the epilepsy field.

Several of these well-respected medical professionals will be offering you their knowledge and experience as they explore this year’s theme – Prioritising epilepsy: who decides? As always, the conference welcomes everyone with an interest in epilepsy. This year, the conference will be opening up the floor to delegates more than ever before. You will have the chance to speak up and share your views on epilepsy – giving you and everyone else a say about their life with epilepsy!

A range of in-depth epilepsy sessions will kick off with an introductory presentation, entitled Who has epilepsy? Are you a man with epilepsy? Or a woman? What’s your cultural background? Or your age? This presentation will explore how everyone’s experience of the condition is different – depending on exactly who you are.

Meanwhile, the increasingly popular Big Debate will return for another year. For the National Conference and Annual General Meeting 2009, our speakers will be debating whether or not everyone with epilepsy receives equal treatment. Whether you think that everyone across the UK receives excellent care, or that some may be luckier than others, now’s the time to cast your vote.

Before a buffet lunch, the Annual General Meeting of British Epilepsy Association will take place – including a report on the association’s activities during 2008. For Epilepsy Action members, this meeting gives delegates the chance to ask questions of the trustees. Meanwhile, non members can attend an alternative session – This is Epilepsy Action. This session examines how Epilepsy Action supports people with epilepsy through its comprehensive Advice and Information services, local branches and Accredited Volunteers.

Continuing this year’s theme of having your say, three excellent parallel sessions during the afternoon will ask for your views on:

• living with the social impact of epilepsy;
• how the condition is treated; and
• how healthcare policy can improve epilepsy services.

Do you have something to say? Then come along and share your opinions!

Philip Lee, Epilepsy Action’s chief executive, said:

“This year our national conference and Annual General Meeting will be held in Gateshead. We hope to see people there from all over the country, but this does provide a wonderful chance for all our supporters in north east England especially to come and join us. The day promises to be as interesting and enjoyable as ever, with plenty of opportunities for people to get involved in the various sessions or just to sit back and take it all in.”

Programme

8.30am Registration opens

9.30am Welcome from the chair

9.35am Keynote Presentation: Who has Epilepsy?
Speaker: Professor Pamela Crawford, consultant neurologist at York District Hospital

10.20am Conference debate: This conference believes that everyone with epilepsy receives equal treatment

• Moderator: Dr Paul McKee, neurologist at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough
• Speaking for: Heather Angus-Leppan, a consultant neurologist at Barnet Hospital and The Royal Free in London
• Speaking against: Dr Tony Marson, professor of neurology at the University of Liverpool and consultant neurologist at The Walton Centre, Liverpool

Followed by questions

11.15am Break

11.45am British Epilepsy Association AGM
AGM Parallel Session: This is Epilepsy Action (for non-members)

1.15pm Lunch and exhibition

2.30pm Afternoon parallel sessions:

• Having a say about living with epilepsy
• Having a say about epilepsy treatments
• Having a say about healthcare policy

4.00pm End of day

Tickets 

Booking has now closed.

• How to find us