News

Deadline: Monday 31st July 2023

Each year BASL presents the Dame Sheila Sherlock research prize, one of the highlights of the annual meeting. This prize is awarded annually to recognise the enormous contribution of Dame Sheila Sherlock to the development of Hepatology as a discipline in its own right.

Dame Sheila was involved in the foundation of the British Liver Club in 1961, which subsequently evolved into The British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL). She was one of our past presidents and the first recipient of the BASL Distinguished Service Award.

Eligibility
In keeping with Dame Sheila’s enthusiasm for fostering young researchers, this eponymous research prize is awarded to young investigators without substantive posts in either medicine or science for their research contributions in the field of hepatology.

The winner will receive free registration to the BASL Annual Meeting, an award and a prize of £1,000 and an invite to deliver the prize lecture and present their research at the meeting. 

To apply, please send one A4 sheet outlining your research and another A4 sheet listing up to 5 related publications.

NB: one person cannot win the Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize and Andy Burroughs Young Investigator Award in the same year. Nor can they win a second award with the same body of work as the first.

You must be a BASL member to apply.

Please send submissions to conference@basl.org.uk before the deadline of Monday 31st July 2023.

BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background.

BASL are inviting applications from members for this important role on the Governing Board. The successful applicant will be expected to attend and contribute to the 2 face-to-face and 2 web-based committee meetings each year, and to the work of the committee for BASL. The post is an elected one for a period of up to three years.

An outline of the role follows for which the following attributes are preferred:
1. Good working knowledge of Twitter and other social media platforms is desirable.
2. Good communication, organisational and team leading skills are essential and can be developed over time.

A full role description can be downloaded below:
Download BASL Communications and Website Lead Role Description_2023.pdf

In addition to their role on the Governing Board, the post holder will work closely with the officers, committee, working groups and secretariat to promote BASL events, newsletter content and other communications relevant to the membership, improve our social media presence and use social media effectively to raise the profile of our association. They will work with the BASL Secretariat on any website upgrades and with developing the BASL members’ portal.

This role is a significant one for BASL and allows the postholder to be influential in the development of our association, and engages with the whole membership.

The postholder should find it enjoyable and fulfilling.

NB: the post holder will be registered with Companies House in the UK as a Director of BASL and registered with the Charities Commission as a Trustee.

BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background. We would, therefore, encourage you to consider joining the BASL committee to help to shape the future of BASL and increase our inclusivity/inclusiveness.

Nomination Process
Nominations for the post of Communications and Website lead need to be sent to the BASL Secretariat at judy@basl.org.uk by the deadline of 09:00hrs on Monday 24th April 2023.

Candidates wishing to be considered for this post require one BASL member to propose them and a second BASL member to confirm their suitability for the role in writing (via email).

If more than one candidate is nominated, the Secretariat will arrange for an election of all members. The successful candidate will be elected by simple majority of those members voting.

A personal statement, containing no more than 300 words, will be required from the candidate following a successful nomination. The candidates personal statement will be shared with the BASL membership should an election need to take place. (Personal statements are intended for this purpose only.)

If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact judy@basl.org.uk or rebecca.jones36@nhs.net. 

Best wishes
BASL Committee

Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) Publishes Health Inequalities Position Statement - February 2023. 

To read the Statement on the OHA website please click > Here .  

The document outlines the key evidence on the relationship between excess weight and inequalities in health outcomes for a range of different socio-economic groups. Furthermore, it explores the policy recommendations that represent the most viable first step to close these inequalities.

The document brings together a consensus on this issue from all of the members of the Obesity Health Alliance, representing over 50 of the leading health charities, campaign groups and medical royal colleges in the UK.

The scope and remit of liver nurses is diversifying year on year and we remain constant in the care and management of people with and at risk of liver disease. Our diverse skills that we possess, such as being person centred, collaborative, advocates, being solution focused and proactive and demonstrating emotional intelligence in response to changing needs continues to be showcased by liver nurses locally across all four nations of the UK.

The BLNA are seeking liver nurses with a drive and enthusiasm to be involved on a national level in supporting, educating and demonstrating leadership for the liver nurse community.

The BLNA Committee require 3 new committee members from April 2023 due to planned demitting, and are now seeking nominations for the following posts:
• 2 x 2-year tenure posts
• 1 x 3-year tenure post

This is an exciting opportunity for liver nurses to get involved with our friendly committee and share their skills and experience. You will gain experience working collaboratively and strategically at a national level to ensure that the needs of people with or at risk of liver disease and liver nurses are represented at the highest levels in the UK. The BLNA are key participants in the UK Liver Alliance, IQILs refresh, BSG liver section etc.

Please read some of the testimonials from BLNA members who have joined the committee >  Download BLNA Committee Testimonials 2023.pdf

Committee members are expected to attend a monthly committee meeting held via Zoom, these take place usually on either the first or second Monday of each month from 12:00 – 13:30pm. In addition commitment is also requested from committee members to attend 2-3 other meetings each year, these may be held face to face or virtually.

If you are interested in joining the BLNA Committee, you must be a registered nurse with an interest in liver care and be a BLNA member.

Nomination Process
Candidates wishing to be considered for election require one BLNA member to propose them, and a second BLNA member to confirm their suitability for the role in writing, by email.

Please note to be eligible to nominate, both the proposer and seconder must be a registered nurse and any nomination should include your NMC PIN number.

Email your nominations, including your NMC PIN number, to Judy at the BASL Secretariat at judy@basl.org.uk by the deadline of 09:00 on Monday 30th January 2023.

It would be helpful when proposing a candidate if you can advise if they prefer to stand for a 2 year or a 3-year tenure.

A personal statement, containing no more than approx. 300 words, may be requested from the candidates following nomination. Permission will be requested to share the personal statements with the BASL BLNA membership. (Personal statements are intended for this purpose only.)

If more than 3 candidates are nominated, the BASL Secretariat will arrange for an election of all BLNA members. Three candidates will be elected by a simple majority of those BLNA members voting.

Important -
• Newly elected BLNA committee members will be required to attend an on-boarding meeting via Zoom on Friday 31st March 1:30 - 3:30pm.
• Newly elected BLNA Committee members will take over in post from 1st April 2023 and will be expected to be available to join the monthly committee meeting via Zoom, (due to Easter) is taking place on Monday 17th April 2023 from 12:00 – 13:30pm.
• Newly elected BLNA Committee members will be required to attend an additional face to face meeting in London on 3rd May 2023 where the focus will be on working towards refreshing nursing aspects of IQILS.

Michelle Clayton, Chair of the BLNA, is happy for members who are interested in joining the committee to contact her if they have any questions, you can reach Michelle at M.Clayton@leeds.ac.uk ; or you can speak to one of the BLNA committee members, see the testimonials for members contact email addresses.

BASL is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. It is actively promoting equal opportunities and access for all our members regardless of their background. We would, therefore, encourage you to consider joining the BLNA committee to help to shape the future of BASL, BLNA and liver nursing in the UK, and increase our inclusivity/inclusiveness.

After the original NCEPOD Report into the care of patients dying with alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD) published in 2013, a survey conducted by NCEPOD has re-evaluated the problems highlighted in the initial Report. This focused on the detection and management of alcohol dependent patients as well as those admitted with alcohol-related liver disease.

The survey Report – ‘Remeasuring the Units’ was published by NCEPOD on 15th December 2022 and highlights where there is further work to be done. It shows that the majority of hospitals still do not have Alcohol Care Teams, that the use of the BASL/BSG Care Bundle needs to be in routine use more widely, and that in over a quarter of Trusts patients with decompensated cirrhosis are not routinely under the care of a gastroenterologist or hepatologist.

For the full Report please click on the link > Here .