Keynote speakers prove a hit
Published: 18 May 2009
Once again, the ECA Conference was a resounding success. Themes of the two-day concurrent workshop/presentations included: urgent care, innovation in emergency care education, research, paediatrics, minor injuries, clinical practice and leadership. Rabina Tindale reports on three main speeches.
Inspiring words
The first day began with a lively session from motivational speaker Alf Dunbar, creator and founder of the highly successful customer service coaching programme 'You are the difference'. The inspirational programme is currently used by a wide range of retail and non-retail organisations in the UK and in 25 countries around the world. Alf's coaching methods are based on the real world with real people; his unique and enthusiastic communication skills inspire people, which in turn enhance individual performance. Alf's goal is to raise people's self-belief and confidence - he even gave away a copy of his book to each delegate!
Digging deeper
Following on from this, MP and Liberal Democratic Shadow Secretary of State for Health Norman Lamb's discussion also proved worthwhile. He was keen to engage with emergency nurses and hear about the problems and pressures they faced. Later in the conference, Nursing Standard Nurse of the Year finalist Cheryl Chainey gave the Ethel Buckles lecture, speaking on her work around the trials, tribulations and pitfalls of moving forward paediatric care in a predominantly adult-focused emergency department.
With inspiring discussions such as these, we can only look forward to 2009!