Emerging from the fog

Haven't had a terribly productive day due to brain fade associated with having a cold (why does it have this effect?), I think/hope I am now emerging from the fog.

I have a big backlog of stuff I wanted to do but didn't get done - mostly following on from the motivational interviewing and Verity/PCOS activities last week. Especially interested in the government's plans to shift responsibility for public health from the NHS to local authorities, and a call fromThe Kings Fund and Centre for Mental Health for greater efficiency in mental health services.

Back in the provinces

Successful couple of days in London, making some good contacts which I hope to follow up on soon.


Was especially intrigued by the complexities of choosing treatment for hirsutism - how women negotiate their way successfully through this minefield is a mystery to me. Am interested to see if there are any decision support aids available.

Also talked to Oriane who works for a company who've developed a novel system to enable women to monitor their menstrual cycles - to take more control over fertility.

Think I am getting a cold - why does this interfere with my ability to think properly?

Still waiting for the raucousness to kick in...

Big smoke for a couple of days

Rather annoyingly had news today that the student I spent half a day designing a personalised programme of retake work for last week didn't bother to turn up for the first scheduled meeting. Wondering sometimes why we bother...


Pleased to get an email today from someone who attended our motivational interviewing day yesterday, and hoping to develop an applied research collaboration as a result.  I always meet people working on interesting projects when I run these events, and it's nice to have a chance to find out more about their work.


Off to London tomorrow for a couple of days related conference activity.


Friday
PCOS UK (health professionals conference) , with topics including:

PCOS, Physical Activity and Insulin Resistance
Practical steps to tackling common dermatology issues
Living with PCOS - developing effective coping strategies
Reducing the quality of life impact of PCOS - top tips for primary care
Research Digest
Cardiovascular risk and PCOS - effective management strategies
The risks and benefits of bariatric surgery in the management of PCOS
 
Saturday
Verity (patient group for women whose lives are affected by PCOS), topics including:


Emotional impact of PCOS - Colette Harris
Get to know your menstrual cycle - Dr Lisa Webber
Alopecia and excess hair - Dr Alison Layton
Being slim with PCOS - Speaker TBC
Weight loss options for PCOS - Dr David Haslam
PCOS and your fertility - Professor Stephen Franks

Staying in a Travelodge so not taking my laptop and therefore no posts.  No offence Travelodge, I just don't fancy leaving it in boot of car all day.

Which tracks?

Spent morning dealing with enquiries about our motivational interviewing courses.  Delighted that some psychology colleagues will be joining us on the courses in October and November.

Rest of day updating various contacts in relation to my grand research plans.

Also confirmed which tracks I will be attending at the forthcoming Verity conference in November.

Pic: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raccoon_tracks.jpg