Everyone is working flat out in nuclear medicine now. With up to 10% absences due to ill-health and covid-19 coupled with unprecedented demand for our services we are all feeling the pressure. The BNMS is working hard on your behalf to increase workforce recruitment and retention to help counteract these pressures. I know you feel dedication to your patients but hope that you do not exhaust yourselves in the process of caring for them. I think there is light at the end of the tunnel – the omicron wave appears to have peaked which will result in us getting back to a more normal situation soon. What I do know is our patients and referring clinicians are unreservedly grateful for the key diagnostic and therapeutic services you all contribute to. It is worth focusing on this when times are hard.
 
The nominations for president of the BNMS will close on 31 January 2022. If you are interested in leading nuclear medicine in the UK this is a great role from which to contribute nationally and internationally. Any prospective candidates are always welcome to talk to me regarding what the role entails.
 
Thank you for taking part in our workforce survey. The results of this will be published in nuclear medicine communications. The BNMS will use these data to help argue for improvements in staffing, services and equipment throughout the UK. Your time completing the survey was well spent and I thank you for that.
 
The professional standards committee continues to work tirelessly on you behalf and has recently approved an update to bone scintigraphy guidelines which will be published shortly. This is just one of the many guidelines that the BNMS publishes annually which define best practice and help you deliver and develop your services.
 
Lots of work is happening regarding the spring meeting in Glasgow. It promises to be a great event and I would encourage you to submit abstracts to increase your stakeholding in the event. I hope to see as many of you as possible there. This will be our first opportunity for a large face to face meeting for some time and is likely to be memorable for that alone. In these covid times one realises the privilege it is to meet up with colleagues and friends to discuss our exciting specialty - something I previously took for granted.

Prof Richard Graham

BNMS President