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I'm sorry to have been quiet these last few days but have been in London on the above awaydays. I thought I would share my feelings with the list. I came away feeling very concerned as I honestly can see no future for the A & E speciality in the UK. It is all going to be taken away and one won't even be left with the minor injuries. I thought the lead was very patronising in my own opinion have met her in previous existence when was nurse manager and before that F-grade. Not a patch on Doreen Rothman who had a similar position in the DoH and was a great support to the speciality and made a great point of going around and meeting people and knowing what was going on. Did not take kindly to being reminded that we were as privileged I presume as those who were at Agincourt or the Somme and that we would be telling our Grandchildren about it, in the opening address. The cost must have been collosal and in my opinion scadulous. My accomodation in London was only £15 a night as I would not stay in the hotel which was £220 a night. Heard on reliable info that bill ran into couple of hundred thousand. When you consider that patients are lying around on trolleys all night in the modern NHS I was felt very disturbed and consider the number of staff one can employ for that. I think the only thing I did learn is that for modernisation equate cuts and I certainly feel an empathy with the firefighters after it. After the couple of days that I spent there I certainly would not be recommending A & E as a career in the UK. Lots of other thoughts and if any interest I will chip in with a few more comments. Needless to say I don't think or I certainly cannot recollect one A&E Specialist actually giving a talk in the main conference. I know Adrian and Matthew actually chaired a discussion session. However we did not figure highly. I can honestly see the speciality being squeezed even more and it doesn't look good I'm afraid to say. Danny McGeehan