Taking place at the University of York and virtually from 8-11 September, the AfPP Annual Conference 2022 is set to be one of the largest gatherings of theatre practitioners in the professional (and social) calendar. With a packed programme of education, networking, workshops and entertainment, it is guaranteed to inform, challenge and inspire.
For the 57th AfPP Annual Conference, AfPP is providing a diverse educational programme across five different learning streams. This year’s theme is ‘Anything is possible.’ Dealing with COVID, redeployment and backlogs has taken its toll on the perioperative community. AfPP will be exploring how we can move forward to enhance patient safety, quality of care, staff wellbeing and career progression. When we work together to innovate, speak up, educate and support one another, anything is possible.
Every speaker and activity has been carefully selected to address the major challenges and key topics of interest for perioperative practitioners in 2022. There will be lectures with live Q&A sessions, speed education, practical workshops and much more to inform, challenge and inspire.
Empowering theatre teams
The keynote presentation, Igniting the Fire Within, will take place at 09:35-10:35 on Friday 9 September – providing delegates with an uplifting and empowering session to set the tone of the conference and to provide a much-needed boost to perioperative practitioners.
Lisa Clifford is a master empowerment and firewalking trainer, as well as a global speaker and coach. Since 2004, she has been transforming and empowering teams, athletes, CEOs and even the British Armed Forces with her expertise. She works on building deep self-belief and confidence, helping people to create their own ‘success psychology’ that enables them to achieve greatness at work and home. She is all about proving that ‘anything is possible’, even if it defies logic! After Lisa’s session, delegates will be left with no doubt about just how incredibly powerful they truly are.
Understanding robotic technology
With the cost of robot-assisted surgery being driven down by increasing competition in the market, more and more hospitals are investing in robotic technology across a broad spectrum of specialties. There are significant benefits for patients and healthcare providers, including less scarring, faster recovery, reduced risk of infection and increased capacity. However, there is a learning curve for theatre teams, and it is vital that the roll-out of the technology is undertaken safely and training provided – for surgeons, perioperative practitioners and decontamination staff.
Bradley Russell will provide an informative discussion on ‘Robots in Theatre’ on Saturday 10 September, 11:00-11:50. Bradley is a registered nurse and qualified surgical care practitioner (SCP) in urology. He completed specialist robotic courses in Denmark and Strasbourg. Assisting for over 1,000 robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALPs), he has had broad exposure to open, laparoscopic and robotic urological surgery within the NHS and private sector. Bradley has published SCP-related articles in a range of peer reviewed journals, is an Associate Member of the RCS (Eng) and is also an active panel member of their Associates Working Group
Bradley will be joined by Carolina Britton MFPCEd, RGN SCP MSc Med, who will also share valuable insights on the topic of ‘Robots in Theatre’. Carolina is the lead surgical care practitioner for robotics at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where she is developing a multi-specialty robotics programme. She is also associate editor of the Journal of Perioperative Practice and an honorary fellow at University College London. As well as her MSc, Carolina has undertaken a Masters in Surgical Education at Imperial College London and is a CMI certified coach.
Safety in the operating theatre
Patient safety is also high on the agenda at the conference with a thought-provoking session on ‘Human Factors’ by Oliver Tierney and Jennifer Maher on Saturday, 10 Septempber, 11:00- 11:50. Oliver and Jennifer are both human factors trainers and AfPP Trustees with a passion for staff wellbeing.
As well as human factors, there will also be discussion around patient safety and staff safety during a session on ‘Electro Surgery’, presented by Steve Veck MBSCCP, MAcadMEd, MInstLM, PGDipClinEd, FRSA, (Saturday 10 September, 11:00- 11:50). Steve is an electrosurgery consultant and clinical lecturer. He has over 30 years’ experience in electrosurgery, surgical plume and related modalities.
Electrosurgery is among the top 10 medical devices referenced in patient injury claims. Most of these injuries could have been avoided, had the users been appropriately educated and trained. This session provides a greater understanding of electrosurgery to help establish safer working environments and reduce injury.
Other aspects of safety will also be explored. Tony Clarke will be taking part in a thought-provoking session, titled: ‘Surgical Fires, A Patient’s Perspective’ (Saturday 10 September, 11.00-11.50). Tony Clarke has worked in social care for over 45 years empowering people with learning disabilities. For 20-30 years he has suffered from a chronic inflammatory skin disease known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa. In September 2020, Tony underwent surgery to remove infected tissue from his left side of his body, when the unthinkable happened, his body caught fire. Surgical fires on the operating table are rare events that should never happen but do. They are not only dangerous to the patient but to the operating theatre practitioners as well and should be classified as a never event. Tony will share his insights into how both the physical and emotional damage a surgical fire can cause not only to the patient but their whole family. The session will be an interview-style session, with Lindsay Keeley asking the questions.
Sustainability and the green operating theatre
Operating theatres contribute up to 30% of total waste output for the hospital and theatres have 3-6 times higher energy consumption compared to other areas. A typical operation produces 150-170 kg CO2e – equal to driving from London to Edinburgh in a petrol car. (Figures cited by Dr. Olivia Bush, programme lead for sustainable clinical practice at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare.)1
Sustainability is increasingly becoming an important focus for the healthcare sector, but how can surgical teams play their part in reducing their carbon footprint? From reducing waste, to minimising emissions of greenhouse gases used in anaesthesia, operating theatres have an opportunity to make a significant difference.
The challenges and opportunities will be addressed by a Sustainability Professional Panel, hosted by John Dade on Friday 9 September, 14:40- 15:10. John qualified as an operating department assistant in 1983, working at multiple UK hospitals, before taking a role as a lecturer in operating department practice at the University of Leicester in 2004.
John is now retired but remains a visiting lecturer and perioperative consultant. He regularly spends time in theatres to keep up to date with current practice and developments.
John is the current AfPP president, having served as a Trustee since 2017 and a member since 1998.
Anaesthetics and difficult airways
The conference will also feature an engaging insight into ‘Anaesthetics – Lessons from the Frontline’, by Kate Prior, taking place on Friday 9 Sept 13:30- 14:30. Surgeon Captain Kate Prior is a consultant anaesthetist in the Royal Navy and at King’s College Hospital in London.
Her operational military role has taken her to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, South Sudan to work for the United Nations and, most recently, to sea with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Kate also provides medical care at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and various UK sporting events. Other sessions will focus on themes such as difficult airways, the future of the ODP workforce, day surgery, using improvement science to drive change in theatres, rapid non-pharmacologic management of pain and anxiety, overcoming career hurdles, and much more…
Saying ‘yes’ to opportunities
The closing keynote on Saturday 10 September, 15:50- 16:50, is titled ‘Miracle Man’ and will feature Anthony Bennett – an ex-patient of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH). He will take delegates on a visual journey through his near-death experience that left him fighting for his life. After returning from a school trip to Disneyland Paris in 2006, Anthony was given a 10% survival rate.
Discover the physical and mental journey he went on before, during and after his time in hospital. After making a full recovery, Anthony went on to help raise millions of pounds for the hospital which saved his life.
He has since been named one of the happiest people in the UK, featuring in the Independent on Sunday’s ‘Happy List’ for the work he does to enrich the lives of others.
Anthony brings to light the importance of working together as a team, from the perspective of his family and the medical professionals during his time in hospital, covering topics such as:
- The impact of self-challenge – saying yes to opportunities and being the best you can be.
- It takes a team – why success is nearly always down to your team.
- Resilience – the power of a positive mental attitude.
- Learning from setbacks – keeping a positive mindset and maintaining motivation.
- Yin and Yang – How negative times can result in positive outcomes that help us persevere
The conference is supported by a number of sponsors, including 3M and Mölnlycke (Gold); Baxter, Ecolab and Spire Healthcare (Silver); and BD and North Bristol NHS Trust (Bronze). For further information on the conference and exhibition, visit: www.afppconf2022.co.uk
About AfPP
The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) is the UK’s leading association for perioperative practitioners. For almost 60 years, it has been supporting everyone working in and around the operating department to be the best practitioner they can be.
Its mission is to lead perioperative excellence and improve patient care and safety – by developing standards, setting best practice, and providing events and resources to support its members. Visit: www.afpp.org.uk
Reference
1. Accessed at: https://www.clinicalservicesjournal. com/story/37672/green-surgery-reducing-theor-carbon-footprint
