Well COVID has changed much of what we do. There are three changes coming up for the BNMS. On the 23^rd of September we will be having our first ever virtual scientific meeting. For those interested in research there is a breakfast pre-meeting concerning the prospects for co-operative research with new tracers in PET lead by Prof Phil Blower from Kings College London. In the main meeting the lectures are pre-recorded to ensure they are a high quality and then questions with the speakers will be live. Posters will be available electronically all day and you can ask questions in the mornings and we hope the authors will answer these over lunch time. During all the breaks you can talk to all our brilliant sponsors. We have decided to spend some money on a professional virtual conference organiser, so all these functions are available to our registrants via a single portal. Sadly, you will need to provide your own meals and drinks.

The second unique feature will be the opportunity of having a departmental hub registration. As many of us have been short of CPD intervals this is a great chance for your department to share together the autumn BNMS. We calculate that about 150 nuclear medicine staff will be accessing us via hubs on the 23^rd.

The third change is the AGM will be via zoom at 17.30 on the 23^rd. This is your opportunity to be part of our decision making process and will start with a vote concerning the future of the President and vice President and if you have views on this or any other issue concerning nuclear medicine please ensure you join the AGM.

Stewart Redman, the BNMS secretary, sent me a link which may be very important for all nuclear medicine technologists. On 30^th July Matt Hancock in a speech stated he would like to see registration extended to a wider group of medical professionals. Charlotte Elliott the Chair of the Health and Care Professional Council the same day issued a letter which stated the HCPC will look at this. This is an opportunity for us to state our case for nuclear medicine technologists to be registered health professionals. This will secure the future of many functions including giving i.v. injections and being able to initiate SPECT-CT.  It should help getting nuclear medicine technology put back on the list of shortage medical professionals for recruitment purposes. It will enable further professional progression than is possible at the present time. If you agree with this please contact your MP stating your support, why you think registration would be a good idea and in this COVID time any examples as to why registration  would help nuclear medicine technologists to provide a better service to patients especially in this time of COVID. The officers of the BNMS are sending letters to a series of people who could help make a positive decision and obtaining support from other professional groups.

Well that is all for this month.  Enjoy our virtual conference on the 23^rd.

Dr John Buscombe

BNMS President