Note: The programme for last year’s Collaborative Conference was developed in collaboration with the UK ME/CFS charities AfME (Action for ME) and AYME (Association of Young People with ME).
A copy of the 2007 programme is archived here: http://tinyurl.com/ccrnc2007
The 2007 Conference presenters had included Vincent Deary (formerly King’s College London CFS Unit), Trudie Chalder (Professor of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London and colleague of Professor Simon Wessely) and Dr Mary Burgess (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research and Treatment Unit, KCL), author of Physiological Aspects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
This unreferenced article, based on the work of Dr Pauline Powell (MRC FINE Trial) concludes that the symptoms of “CFS” are caused and maintained by “deconditioning”, “faulty illness beliefs” and anxiety and that there is good evidence to show that the effects of these are “reversible by a programme of gradual physical rehabilitation”.
The 2007 Keynote speaker was Professor Gijs Bleijenberg, Clinical Psychologist and Head of the Nijmegen Expert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Netherlands – another speaker from the “CBT for CFS” school.
Members of UK ME patient organisations, non members and the international ME community were outraged, in 2007, by the endorsement of this conference by our patient organisations AfME and AYME.
This year’s Keynote Speakers will be Professor Mansel Aylward, Director of Unum Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research (CPDR), University of Cardiff on “Pathways to work (exact title tbc)“ and Professor Christine Heim, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA who will address the conference on “Early Adverse Experience as a Risk factor for CFS: A Psychobiological Perspective”.
What is there to say, other than that Action for ME and AYME’s endorsement of these conferences is enough to make you weep.
2009 Collaboration Conference Programme Flyer
Action for ME | AYME | NHS
CFS/ME Clinical & Research Network & Collaborative (CCRNC) 2009 Conference
AYME and Action for ME in collaboration with the CCRNC
Milton Keynes 23rd-24th April
This is the second national conference for specialist services and health professionals working with people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME.
The aims are fourfold:
i) to invite national and internationally renowned speakers to broaden the understanding of CFS/ME, both theoretically and practically
ii) to run workshops where relevant issues are discussed more informally
iii) to serve as a forum for national meetings and the AGM.
iv) to provide varied networking opportunities.
We have endeavoured to have a range of topics covered. These include the national research agenda, biological factors, ways of working with clients/patients, involving service users, work, diet, and looking at the measurement of fatigue in other health conditions. Presenters/workshop conveners include occupational therapists, psychologists, medics, neurologists and dieticians.
The inaugural conference in October 2007 was very well attended and well received. Our hope is that this year’s meeting is equally successful.
The AGM and Collaborative Executive meetings will be held first on the Thursday.
After the opening address and Keynote Speaker, the workshops will run in parallel sessions in the afternoon. Each workshop will be run twice, allowing people to attend two workshops in the conference. You can choose your preferred workshops on the attached application form, or decide on the day (although some of the workshops may be filled by then). Friday is given over to the plenary and second Keynote Speaker, and time for viewing posters.
The conference dinner will be held on the Thursday night in Jurys Hotel.
You will find a registration form at the end of this document: please complete this, and return it before March the 6th 2009 for an “Early Bird” discount.
Registration Fees are:
- Early registration £100 for one day, £150 for both
- Late registration £125 for one day, £200 for both days
- Conference Dinner: £30 plus wine
Accommodation is not included within these costs (see below for accommodation details).
CME approval is pending: attendance certificates will be supplied.
Poster Session
An invitation has been sent for posters for the conference. The deadline has, now passed but please contact Gabrielle Murphy for any further information.
(Gabrielle.Murphy@royalfree.nhs.uk ).
CRCCNRCRRC AGM and Executive Committee Meeting: Thursday
Please contact Esther Crawley (Esther.Crawley@Bristol.ac.uk) for more details.
Thursday: Keynote Speaker
Professor Mansel Aylward
Director of Unum Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research (CPDR), University of Cardiff
Pathways to work (exact title tbc)
Workshops: Thursday Afternoon
Delegates can choose to attend two out of the following workshops:
A brief introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Jane Griffin
(Lead Commissioning Manager for Plymouth PCT)
The NOD (National Outcome Database) and evaluating services
Esther Crawley
(RNHRD CFS/ME Service for Children and Young People, Bath)
Helping people retain and return to work
Beverley Knops and Fiona Wright
(Frenchay CFS/ME Service, Bristol)
Lessons from my journey – feedback from collaborative projects between patients and professionals.
Sue Pemberton
Leeds & West Yorkshire CFS/ME Service
Talking about Sex: Missing Conversations in CFS/ME
Dr Amanda O’Donovan
Barts and the London NHS Trust
Dietary management of CFS/ME
Judith Harding and Sue Luscombe
NHS South West Essex Community Services
Friday: Keynote Speaker and Plenary Sessions
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Professor Christine Heim
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
“Early Adverse Experience as a Risk factor for CFS: A Psychobiological Perspective”
Dr Esther Crawley
RNHRD Paediatric CFS/ME Service, Bath.
“Current research in paediatrics and early intervention in schools”
Dr Jeremy Hobart
Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth, UK.
The challenge of measuring fatigue (exact title tbc)
Dr Mary Welford
Compassionate Mind Foundation
“Compassion Focused Therapy and Engagement”
Professor Stephen Holgate
MRC Research Professor of Immunopharmacology, Southampton University
“Setting a new research agenda for CFS/ME”
Accommodation
Accommodation is available in Jurys Hotel itself. Please book on line and book early for the best rates. Prices start from £75 per night.
There is a link to more accommodation details on the registration form.
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