Professor Michael Vassallo

Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, Royal Bournemouth Hospital
I would like to be considered for the post of BGS President Elect for the following reasons:
 
I have extensive experience in Geriatric Medicine and have been a full time consultant for over 25 years. I fully understand the challenges faced by our specialty and the crucial roles played by Geriatricians, Primary Care Teams and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) in delivering and developing comprehensive services for older people.
 
I understand the structure and function of the BGS, having successfully been Meetings Secretary and Treasurer before my current role of Vice-President for Education and Training.
 
My leadership experience includes Trust Clinical Lead, Clinical Director and Director of Medical Education. Currently I am Deputy Guardian of Safe Working and Visiting Professor at Bournemouth University. Nationally, I led the Specialty Certificate Examination, Chaired the Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC), currently lead the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) and co-chair the EUGMS SIG (Education/Training).
 
If successful, I want to build on successes of previous Presidents and continue developing a BGS relevant to the changing needs and aspirations of its diverse and multi-professional membership and a powerful advocate for care of older people.
 
My priorities will be:
 

1. Workforce development.

  • Our specialty has a multi-professional workforce with ACPs and others increasingly taking medical roles. This is crucial to deliver safe, high-quality care. I want to see Advanced Clinical Practice flourish. I led opening up the DGM (a medical exam) to ACPs and I am keen to promote other initiatives enhancing multi-professional education.
  • We need to recruit and retain more doctors. I will work with the SAC, RCP and others to promote recruitment, training, less-than-full-time working and increase trainee numbers.
  • More support for non-consultant specialists, SAS doctors and locum geriatricians in attaining specialist registration.
  • Advocacy for physical and mental well-being’
  • Greater involvement of retired members for their experience and wisdom working for the society and specialty
2. Education
 

I will encourage greater opportunities for consultants to have adequate access to continuing professional development (CPD), quality improvement training and support for appraisal, revalidation and service development.

3. Research
 
I will promote the excellent research undertaken within our specialty and build on its success aiming to increase capacity and opportunity and ensure that research is showcased at our meetings.
 
4. Improving Care
 
Whilst great strides have been made over the past few years, I believe the Society could do more to raise its public and political profile. The Society should lobby for service development and equity of care so that in these difficult times the care of older people is not marginalised. With hospitals moving resources to the front door to avoid unnecessary admission, the care of those admitted is inevitably put under pressure, sometimes significantly so with poor continuity.
 
I feel that any successful ‘admissions avoidance’ can only happen if we improve and expand specialist community care. If properly resourced many basic hospital interventions could be done in the community. I will work with GPs, social care, DOH and others to lobby for and develop hospital-at-home schemes to prevent unnecessary admission and facilitate discharge.
 
I will promote greater collaboration with the Royal College of Psychiatrists relating to the care of older people particularly those with dementia.
 
I will work to raise the profile of the BGS internationally. As SCE chair I was in favour of opening the exam to other nations. British Geriatrics is very well respected and I will continue to work with international colleagues to promote our specialty further, and learn from good practice elsewhere.
 
5. Financial Viability
 
I will ensure a financially viable society that continues to fulfil its charitable obligations. As a treasurer and trustee, I supported developments that are now reaping great benefits, for example organising our meetings in-house. I want to see a society that invests in time, money and human resources to grow and flourish.
 
6. Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity
 
I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing people progress their careers. I have an excellent track record of helping people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures to develop and progress.
 
These aims are driven by my personal values of supporting equality and diversity, reducing differential attainment, facilitating inclusivity and promoting a culture of collaboration and respect where every member has a voice and feels valued. I have a reputation for fairness and timely delivery. As President Elect, and future President, I will do my utmost to collaborate with you as colleagues. The Society has a wealth of talented members and staff and it is a privilege to work with everyone. Whilst I am decisive when needed I very much prefer to remain collaborative and lead by consensus. If elected, it will be my goal to work with you all to bring this together and I greatly value your support.