Society for Endocrinology Clinical Update & Endocrine Nurse Update 2024

The ADSHG headed to Birmingham to attend the annual Society for Endocrinology Clinical Update and Endocrine Nurse Update held on 25- 27 March 2024.

This three-day event is indispensable for trainees, consultants and endocrine nurses, focusing on best practice and the latest developments. Attendees learn through lectures, interactive workshops and meeting us, patient support groups!

Our stand is packed with resources and publications to support endocrine teams in their work. Attendees can scan our QR codes to order leaflets and steroid emergency cards, learn more about our research grants and even see our emergency hydrocortisone injection kits in action! We also share our lived experience, showing the reality of daily living with steroid dependency, alongside the theory.

Noel Hawks who volunteered at this year's stand (and many stands before!) updates us on the conference:

“The three days we spent in Birmingham proved to be another seriously successful outing for the ADSHG team of Dom Hargreaves, Alison Mainwaring, Chris Walters and Noel Hawks together with online back-up from Chloe Mezzetti and Philippa Sharman.

Chris and Alison set out our stall at first light on Monday morning in the Hilton Birmingham Metropole at the NEC and, later that same day, they were joined by Dom and Noel. Our dynamic online duo of Chloe and Philippa ensured that the daily news went out live and direct on a number of social media platforms, and it felt like we never stopped meeting and greeting for the entire time.

We were delighted to be able to talk with a number of long term supporters of the ADSHG including Lead Nurse in Endocrinology Louise Breen, Professor Simon Pearce and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Lisa Shepherd.

We also spoke at length to Professor Aled Rees and numerous other medics. Endocrine Specialist Nurse Kate White gave a very interesting presentation on the importance of A&E departments in recognising and treating adrenal crises (more on this coming soon!)

As always, everyone we spoke to was extremely complimentary about the ADSHG and our Patient Information leaflets, website and presence on social media and we were told time and time again “we always advise our newly diagnosed patients to go to your website and join the group”. This was, of course, very heartening to hear and our stock of leaflets had to be continually replenished.

I know I have said before that I’m biased (of course I’m biased) but our presence at these events is integral in alerting the medical profession to the invaluable work of the group and it’s reassuring to be told that our website and publications are invariably recommended by the medics.

A huge thank you to Alison, Chloe, Chris, Dom and Philippa and also to all at the Society for Endocrinology for inviting us. Another huge thank you to their ever-helpful Events Team for organising everything. It’s a genuine pleasure to work with you.”

Thank you to our amazing conference volunteers for manning our stand, raising awareness and speaking with healthcare professionals. We couldn’t do it without you! We hope everyone attending had an endocrine-packed, educational and fun event!

If you're a healthcare professional and would like to know more about our resources, visit our Endocrinology Hub.

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