UPDATES FROM THE VASCULAR SOCIETIES
British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR)
www.bsir.org | @BSIR_News
•The BSIR Special Interest meetings have now drawn to a close, receiving good delegate numbers and positive support from industry. Since the last report:
- The BSIR Paediatrics UK Annual Meeting took place on Monday 18th May in Birmingham. This meeting continues to be well attended and is increasingly and important forum for trainees and allied health professionals with an interest in paediatric IR.
- The BSIR Interventional Oncology UK meeting took place on 4th-5th June in Newcastle, attracting over 120 delegates across two days.
- IOUK was preceded on 3rd June by the second Interventional Oncology Network for Research and Innovation Collaboration (IONIC-UK) workshop, sponsored by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR), and convened by Professor Tze Wah.
- The second BSIR Registrar Study Day took place virtually on 11th June, once again supporting over 50 attendees online, this year focussed on non-vascular IR.
•BSIR has been pleased to represent IR in several Parliamentary events in recent months, including the VVAPPG Parliamentary Drop-in, focussed on Making the Case for Reform in the Vascular Sector, and the Annual ABHI Reception.
•The Society continues to respond to NICE consultation requests through input from members. This year Executive Officers have also been involved in high level DHSC discussions regarding the New Hospitals Programme. We are pleased to be working alongside the Vascular Society in response to MHRA’s request for input in to SWEDPAD 2 Findings and Consideration of Current MHRA Advice on Paclitaxel-Coated Devices.
•Registration is now open for BSIR 2026 in Birmingham on 4-6th November.
- Join us to explore novel interventional treatments from developments in venous and arterial IR, continued advances in thyroid pathology and musculoskeletal embolotherapy, and the evolving landscape of interventional oncology.
- With a strong focus on how treatments are implemented in real-world practice, the programme has been designed to facilitate discussion - from panels exploring thoracic venous occlusions to live acute limb ischaemia MDT discussions.
- The programme includes debates on the role of IR within the RCR, the practical requirements of a modern IR service and the Wattie Fletcher Lecture focussing on the importance of IR education. There are also dedicated Trainee and Nurses & Radiographers programmes, designed to inspire the next generation of IRs and the whole IR team.
- An overview of the programme can be found at: www.bsirmeeting.org.
You can find out more about upcoming BSIR events and activities on the BSIR website www.bsir.org
Society of Vascular Nurses (SVN)
www.svn.org.uk | @vascularnurses
The Society of Vascular Nurses (SVN) has remained active in the field of education over recent months. In collaboration with the lower limb charity Legs Matter, we have delivered a series of popular *'On the Sofa'* webinars, featuring informal question-and-answer discussions on a range of arterial and venous disease topics. Designed as an accessible introduction to vascular care, these webinars have been well received and remain available to view on the Legs Matter Facebook page.
Our successful partnership with the Vascular Society also continued with the Joint Virtual Summer Symposium. The event attracted more than 150 delegates and received excellent feedback from attendees. We are extremely grateful to the many expert clinicians who contributed to a varied and engaging programme, helping to make the symposium such a success.
The SVN roadshow programme has continued to grow, with the next event taking place in York in September. These educational study days provide practical teaching on a broad range of vascular and venous conditions, delivered by experienced SVN Council members alongside local vascular clinicians. Demand has been consistently high, and we look forward to expanding the programme to more locations across the UK.
Preparations are also well underway for the Joint Societies Conference in Liverpool this November. The programme is now finalised, with speakers confirmed across a range of sessions. We are particularly looking forward to contributing to the Joint Societies symposium on acute limb ischaemia. It is also encouraging to see a year-on-year increase in submissions for the James Purdy Prize abstract competition, reflecting the growing engagement of nurses in vascular research. In addition, the SVN continues to support conference attendance through an expanding bursary programme.
Finally, we have maintained our engagement with the Vascular and Venous All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Representatives from the SVN recently attended an event at the Houses of Parliament, bringing together key stakeholders to engage Members of Parliament in discussions surrounding the report *Making the Case for Reform in the Vascular Sector*. This important work continues to raise awareness of the challenges facing vascular services and the need for sustained investment and improvement.
Vascular Anaesthesia Society of Great Britain & Ireland (VASGBI)
www.vasgbi.com | @vasgbi
