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Courses RCPE

Edinburgh International Course in Medicine of the Older Adult

Monday 11 - Thursday 14 May

Courses
Mon 11 - Thu 14 May | 4 Day Event
Mon 09:00 - Thu 17:00
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 11 Queen Street, Edinburgh
Activity code: 23 applied for
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Overview

This in-person event brings together leading experts from the UK and around the world to share the latest insights and practical approaches in care of the older adult. 

Whether you're a consultant, resident doctor, GP, specialist nurse, or allied health professional, this course offers invaluable learning and networking opportunities for those working in the UK or worldwide. 

Course Highlights: 

  • Expert-led sessions and practical talks
  • Holistic discussions on caring for older adults
  • A welcoming, collaborative learning environment
  • Optional social programme 

Topics Include: 

  • Neurological conditions in older age
  • Acute trauma management
  • Community-based care
  • Specialty updates in geriatric medicine
  • Palliative care workshop
  • Surgical considerations for older patients 

We would be thrilled to welcome you to Edinburgh for this enriching experience. 

You can register for the full course or per day, it’s up to you. 

 

Organising Committee:

  • Dr Conor Maguire, Co-Chair
  • Dr Clare Bostock, Co-Chair
  • Dr Andrew Pearson
  • Dr Colin Mitchell
  • Dr Claire McKay
  • Dr Jane Wallace
  • Dr Chiara Beck
  • Dr Preeti Nair

 

 

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Programme

Day 1 - Monday 11 May 2026

08:30  Registration and coffee
08:55 Welcome and introductory remarks

Session 1 - Trauma

Chair: 

09:05

Update on osteoporosis
Speaker TBC

  * diagnosis * shared decision making * updates in management * complex cases * renal impairment  
09:45 

Older people's trauma - for the generalist
Speaker TBC

 * advanced trauma life support guidance * traumatic brain injury * rib fractures * spinal cord injuries * predicting outcomes * palliative care following trauma
10:30  Break

Session 2 -

Chair: 

11:00

Neurosurgery essentials for older people following trauma
Speaker TBC

 * surgical vs conservative management * subdural haematoma * re-imaging * prognostications * c-spine injuries * use of collars
11:45

Updates in rehabilitation following trauma in older people
Speaker TBC

* expert tips * prognostication * long-term outcomes * bed-rest vs deconditioning * managing delirium in the context of unstable injuries
12:30 LUNCH

Session 3 - Caring for the older person in the community

Chair: 

13:30

Hospital at home
Speaker TBC

* how can we optimally care for people in own homes * what level of treatment can we provide * role of telemedicine * team make up * application around the world 
14:15

Providing high quality care in care homes
Speaker TBC

* measuring and improving quality of life * wearable devices * social networks analysis * medication use * impact of practice care on survival * application around the world
15:00 Break

Session 4

Chair: 

15:30

Remote and rural medicine
Speaker TBC

  • case finding/screening
  • CGA in primary care
  • remote and rural medicine
  • primary-secondary care interface
  • alternatives to acute admission
  • case studies
  • application around the world
16:15 Close of Day 1
16:20 Welcome reception & tour of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 

Day 2 - Tuesday 12 May 2026

08:30 Registration and Coffee
09:00 Introduction and welcome

Session 1 - Neurology

Chair: 

09:05

Help, my patient can't swallow
Dr Elizabeth Visser, Consultant Neurologist, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 
and Collette Hughes, Neurology Speech & Language Therapist, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  • assessment
  • differential diagnosis
  • myasthenia gravis
  • MND
  • next steps
09:45

Parkinson's or parkinsonism?
Speaker TBC

  • how to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes
  • cortico basal degeneration/progressive supranuclear palsy/multisystem atrophy
  • approach to aid diagnosis
  • when to refer
  • updates in management
10:30  Break

Session 2

Chair: 

11:00

Updates in Delirium
Speaker TBC

  • what's new
  • early recognition
  • symptom management
  • prognosis
  • follow-up
11:45

Updates in Dementia
Speaker TBC

  • what's new
  • diagnosis
  • subtypes
  • stress and distress
  • management
12:30 LUNCH

Session 3 - Neurology & Wellbeing

Chair: 

13:30

Optimising sleep for older people and ourselves
Speaker TBC

  • physiology
  • assessment
  • non-pharmacology management
  • pharmacology management
  • sleep and wellbeing in healthcare workers
14:10

Maintaining personal wellbeing in the face of challenging professional circumstances
Speaker TBC

  • supporting outselves and each other
  • dealing with complaints
  • dealing with court attendance
  • moral injury

 
14:50 Break

Session 4 - Neurology & Wellbeing: Rapid updates

Chair: 

15:20

Avoiding pitfalls in acute stroke
Dr John Reid, Consultant Neurologist and Stroke, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

  • optimising acute care
  • stroke mimics
  • POCS
15:55

Updates in stroke rehabilitation
Speaker TBC

  • what's new
  • outcome measures
  • transferring good practice into other settings
16:30

Approach to the dizzy older person
Speaker TBC

  • what's new
  • aids to diagnosis
  • bedside manoeuvres
     
17:05 Close of Day 2

Day 3 - Wednesday 13 May 2026

08:30  Registration and Coffee
09:00  Introduction and welcome

Session 1 - Hot Topics

Chair: 

09:05

Eyes for the non-ophthalmologist, a guide
Mr Pankaj Agarwal, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh

  • the ageing eye
  • glaucoma
  • age related macular degeneration
  • cataracts
  • new treatment advances
09:40

Anorectal function and ageing
Speaker TBC

  • assessment
  • faecal incontinence
  • atonic bowel
  • updates in management
  • when to refer
10:15

Intensive care for the older adult
Speaker TBC

  • what can intensive care offer your patient?
  • who benefits? who doesn't?
  • what are the risks in the frailer patient?
     
10:50 Break

Session 2 - Hot Topics

Chair: 

11:20

Management of diabetes in the older & frail adult
Speaker TBC

  • target HbA1c
  • drug choice
  • management of complications
  • diabetic control at end of life
11:55

Managing HIV in the older adult
Speaker TBC

  • tbc
12:30 LUNCH

Session 3 - Palliative Care Workshops - Part 1

 

13:30 Workshop A Workshop B
 

Managing difficult cases, focusing on difficult symptom control 
speaker TBC

  • practical advice for providing care in different settings
  • rationalising other medications
  • agitation and distress
  • ensuring good mouth care
  • use of breakthrough medications
  • use and titration of continuous syringe drivers, and choice of drugs in these
  • interactive cases

Challenging communications at the end of life
Speaker TBC

  • discussing dying and recognising the end of life
  • switching to a symptomatic approach and withdrawing treatments
  • challenges around resuscitation
  • managing distress around hydration and nutrition
  • interactive cases


 
14:45 Break... and then change workshop

Session 4 - Palliative Care Workshops - Part 2

 

15:15 Workshop A Workshop B
 

Managing difficult cases, focusing on difficult symptom control 
speaker TBC

  • practical advice for providing care in different settings
  • rationalising other medications
  • agitation and distress
  • ensuring good mouth care
  • use of breakthrough medications
  • use and titration of continuous syringe drivers, and choice of drugs in these
  • interactive cases

Challenging communications at the end of life
Speaker TBC

  • discussing dying and recognising the end of life
  • switching to a symptomatic approach and withdrawing treatments
  • challenges around resuscitation
  • managing distress around hydration and nutrition
  • interactive cases


 
16:30 Round up and feedback from workshops - Plenary Room
17:00 Close of Day 3
19:30 Course Dinner 

Day 4 - Thursday 14 May 2026

08:30  Registration and Coffee
09:00  Introduction and welcome

Session 1 - POPS and Surgery: The patient journey & shared decision making

Chair: 

09:05

Surgical management of an older person. Anaesthetic approach
Speaker TBC

  • the role of the anaesthetist in the MDT
  • pre-operative risk assessment in older people
  • post-op pain management
09:40

Surgical management of an older person.  Surgical approach
Speaker TBC

  • the role of the surgeon in the MDT
  • updates about NELA talking about use of large scale audits in improving care and outcomes
  • conservative options
10:15

Surgical management of an older person. Geriatric medical approach
Speaker TBC

  • the role of geriatrician in MDT
  • using CGA in peri-operative setting
  • setting up a POPS service
10:50 Combined Q&A
11:05 Break

Session 2

Chair: 

11:30

Update on the management of prostate disease
Speaker TBC

  • tbc
12:05

Vascular Surgery
Speaker TBC

  • updates in vascular surgery
  • when to refer
  • carotid endarterectomies in older people - risk vs benefit
12:40

Cardiology
Dr Andrew Chapman, Consultant Cardiologist, NHS Lothian and Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

  • updates in interventional cardiology
  • when to refer for TAVI
  • peri-operative management of heart failure
13:15 LUNCH

Session 3 - Hot topics

Chair: 

14:15

Living and dying with cardiac implantable devices
Speaker TBC

  • understand the types of cardiac implantable electronic devices (loop recorders, simple pacemakers, resynchronisation pacemakers and defibrillators)
  • indications for implant
  • troubleshooting cardiac devices on the acute medical unit
  • end of life considerations in people with cardiac devices (with particular attention on ICD management)
14:50

The older person's skin spectrum: from itch to ulcer - what every geriatrician should know
Speaker TBC

  • Top 10 most likely skin presentation in older people
  • a walk through skin presentations in the older person
  • optimum wound care
  • a dressing update
15:25 Break

Session 4 -

Chair: 

15:45

Medicines optimisation for older people with frailty
Dr Henry Woodford, Consultant Geriatrician, Northumbria NHS

  • why people with frailty need a different approach
  • how to identify inappropriate polypharmacy
  • how to align prescribing with person-centred goals
16:20

Management of CKD in older people with frailty
Dr Tim Shipley, Consultant Renal Physician, South Tees NHS

  • prognostication
  • disease modification
  • management of complications
  • end stage renal failure
16:55 Course end/Summary/Feedback 

Please note that on occassion event programmes may be subjected to change due to unforseen circumstances. 

Fees

Not a Member of RCPE? By joining the College, you can save up to 100% on event fees for our symposia, courses and Evening Medical Update programme. Find out more about joining the College and our membership benefits via our membership webpages.

 

 

Fee for full course

 (4 days)

 Fee per day
Standard Fee £900 £290
RCPE Fellow, Collegiate & Associate Member £840 £270
Trainees/Resident Doctors £750 £200
Allied Health Professional £750 £200

Course Dinner, Wednesday 13 May

 * Please select the booking option to attend at point of booking your event attendance

 £75  

Long term / other leave: Fellows and Members, please contact the Symposium Co-ordinator as some discretion may be available.

Invoices

If you wish your employer/organisation to be invoiced for this event, please contact the event coordinator. Payment via invoice is not available whilst booking online.

Free places

Unpaid post: If RCPE Member, please provide confirmation of status to the event coordinator in order to access this event for free

Refugee doctors: Free places are available to refugee doctors who are Associate Members of the College, please contact the event coordinator for more information. Associate Membership for refugee doctors is available free of charge. Please visit our membership pages for more information on joining the College as a refugee doctor. 

Cancellation policy

If you have to cancel your place within 14 days of this event, we regret that we are unable to provide a refund.

If you are no longer able to attend in-person, you can still view the event online. The event will be available to view on-catch up for 6 months after the live event, therefore, there is still an opportunity to view the talks if you are not able to attend on the day.  CPD however, will only be available for 28 days post event.

Booking Terms & Conditions: Please read the College’s full event booking Ts&Cs regarding event changes, CPD, and data protection in the event policies section on our Event FAQ pages. 
 

Further information

Registered delegates can view this event on catch-up for 6 months following the live event, i.e. until 14 November 2026. Please note that in line with Federation rules, the CPD period is for 28 days from the live event. To obtain a CPD certificate you must complete the online feedback survey by 11 June 2026.

 If you are unable to attend this event live but would like to view this event for 6 months post-event and qualify for a CPD certificate (if feedback is completed), please register before the live event is due to take place in order to be given access. It is not possible to register for catch-up viewing after the live event has taken place.

 

Certificates

All relevant events are approved for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). To receive a CPD certificate delegates must have completed the online feedback survey. The survey will close 28 days after the original broadcast of the event on 11 June 2026, with certificates being issued shortly after this.

Certificates cannot be issued after the survey has closed.

 

Joining us in the College

Delegate notice: This event is being recorded – film, audio, and photography – these recordings may be used in the College’s digital and printed publicity material or on our digital education platforms. If you do not wish to be recorded, please let a member of staff know. 

Access: A wheelchair lift and internal lift are in place at the College, allowing access to the conference centre and historic rooms. However, as a listed building, there are some meeting rooms that have restricted access. For further information and assistance, please contact the event coordinator responsible for the event.  

Prayer and Parent room: We provide a prayer room at all our hybrid/In-person events, and a member of staff will be able to direct you to this space on the day of the event. We can also provide a parent room at our events where required. If you are interested in this facility, please contact the event coordinator.  

Commercial Sponsorship: Many events are supported by commercial companies taking exhibition space. Health professionals and NHS Managers are invited to visit the company stands during the breaks. Companies interested in sponsoring this, or other events listed on our event pages should contact the event coordinator.  

Exhibitors/Sponsors play no part in the planning or delivery of our events, and the College has developed an Ethical Sponsorship Policy to support organising committees and committee chairs in their negotiations with potential commercial partners for education and other events. 

Event co-ordinator
Margaret Farquhar
Telephone
+ 44 (0)131 247 3636
Email
m.farquhar@rcpe.ac.uk
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Event information

Courses
Mon 11 - Thu 14 May | 4 Day Event
Mon 09:00 - Thu 17:00
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 11 Queen Street, Edinburgh
Activity code: 23 applied for
View all events

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