Did you know that if you search for the word Delirium on the BBC website you are likely to be directed to the Sports page? Wimbledon is the latest hit. Look under concerns for the over 50s on the Health page and you will find Ebola virus and flaky scalp but not delirium. Delirium - rife in the community and hospitals, 60+% in our sick ventilated patients, with a legacy of death and dementia.
Lets get delirium where it belongs into the UK consciousness or at least the BBCs! E mail them!
The latest Annals of Delirium, volume 5, is now published on the European Delirium Association website and is currently free to read and download. The eclectic publication has something to interest everyone from patients, relatives to acknowledged experts in the field - from a patient describing his own experience to the article - The Messiness of Delirium Knowledge Transfer. Have a look!
www.europeandeliriumassociation.com/news/annals-of-delirium-vol-5-july-2011-available-to-download/
Daniel Davis from Cambridge has set up a European Delirium Association facebook page, all you who know about delirium and all who would like to know more - lets network!
An ICU research fellow post has been created at Watford General Hospital to work with Dr Valerie Page on the Hope-ICU trial (ISRCTN 83567338). Hope-ICU is a landmark study in ICU delirium on ventilated ICU patients comparing intravenous haloperidol with placebo. There will be opportunities to take part and help develop other related research ideas and additional support from Dr Daqing Ma Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London.
The post is currently funded for 1 year - think about it, this may be the year that will make a whole difference to your career whether you are looking for a future in academic medicine, looking to change over into one or just would appreciate the experience.
Details and application via the NHS jobs website, reference 360-338 or search under medical jobs, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Closing date July 21st.
Further details from valerie.page@whht.nhs.uk
The prestigious Delirium Champion Award from the American Delirium Society has been awarded this year to the European Delirium Association. Professor Alasdair MacLullich, a founder member of the EDA, was proud to accept this on behalf of the European Delirium Society at the recent inaugural conference of the ADS. It recognises the EDA “for their advocacy, leadership and numerous contributions to the advancement of delirium science and care”.
(It is interesting to note that the EDA was actually born in the States, out of a late night discussion between like-minded Europeans committed to making a real difference for patients.)
Congratulations to the EDA!
Do you have strong views on the use of restraints? Or are you ambivalent? Or maybe you feel you just don’t know enough? Later in the year, there are 2 meetings addressing this issue in the south of England.
STICUMUP (South Thames Intensive Care Unit Managers Group) are hosting a day dedicated to “Fighting for Better Patient Care” on 14th October in Crawley, see http://www.sticumup.org.uk/ for further details.
The Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Critical Care Network have provisionally organised a day conference on Delirium and Restraints for Monday September 12th to be held in Cambridge. More details from Kimberly Giraud, Clinical Trial Co-ordinator at the Papworth Hospital - kimberly.giraud@nhs.net.
Delirium in Critical Care available now from Amazon and other book outlets written by Valerie Page and Wes Ely - first editions!
The inaugaral meeting of the American Delirium Society takes place next month in Indianapolis. Be part of this historical event why don’t you! The programme is available from http://www.americandeliriumsociety.org/uploads/FINAL_ADS_Program_At-a-Glance.pdf
If you can’t make the meeting please consider joining the society - a years membership is $100.
The Spring European Delirium Assocation newsletter is out now. It is currently free to download and read from the EDA website, keep up to date with the European world of delirium.
Online Wall Street Journal have published a timely article about ICU delirium. Could it be that delirium will enter the consciousness of the UK media soon?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704081604576144321242020948.html
