{{ item.label }}: {{ item.title }}

Medically Unexplained Symptoms / Somatic Symptom Disorder: Improving Practice

This Conference is now Closed

Follow the conference on Twitter #medicallyunexplainedsymptoms

A Joint Conference Healthcare Conferences UK & The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Researched and produced in partnership with The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, this important and timely conference will support delegates to better understand and meet the needs of people with medically unexplained symptoms/somatic symptom disorder. The conference will have a focus on improving the primary care response. Through national updates, extended sessions and practical case studies the Summit will bring together leading practitioners in this area. Following an opening presentation on the ‘lived experience’ the programme will focus on; improving management and treatment, whole team consultation for GP and primary care teams, identifying and managing MUS at Accident & Emergency, MUS and Trauma, prioritising MUS for Commissioners, and setting recovery goals for MUS. We will also consider the important area of holistic care for people with both explainable conditions alongside psychogenic aspects of the human condition that can feel too complex or overwhelming to tackle with confidence.

Learning points:
Attending the Summit will enable you to:

  • Explore contemporary practice in MUS, PPS and the impact of trauma, inequality and psycho-social deprivation on life course and health outcomes.
  • Reflect on how we can improve the primary care response
  • Improve your understanding of the breadth and diversity of PPS and MUS including what gets under the skin of GPs and what can help enhance confidence in practice as well as reduce the need to always ‘act’ (prescribe, intervene, investigate…)
  • Learn about the impact of adverse experience in childhood (trauma +) on patient experience, body-mind health and outcomes in adult life.
  • Explore Innovations in Primary and Emergency care – frequent attenders, complex presentations and cost savings.
  • Understand and relate to GP pressures: What helps? How to help? What do GPs want, what might they need – how can we help to support and nurture General Practice and its function of providing much of the ‘therapeutic’ help and listening that complex patients receive 95% of the time?

“Almost one half of Primary Care Patients have at least one medically unexplained symptom that does not respond to standard care. This leads to unnecessary investigation, referrals, health costs, medications as well as frustration in patients and health professionals alike. The great majority of these patients have psychophysiological disorders.”

Dr. Allan Abbass, MD, FRCPC MUS Expert , Dalhousie University’s Director of Education.

“Doctors often manage the symptoms by minimising (normalising) and treating empirically; whereas patients usually want explanations and emotional support – for their symptoms to make sense. Doctors and nurses, especially if unsure how to manage the situation, may assume patients want more than they do. The doctor may precipitate premature tests & referrals, perhaps to distance themselves from their patients; or by perceiving undue pressure to diagnose and cure. Past health and psychosocial experiences may encourage some patients to minimise certain symptoms and over emphasise others to shift the doctor’s attention in a particular direction. People want reassurance that the doctor has considered all the possibilities. They will usually accept that there is uncertainty now, yet want assurance that their symptoms will be taken seriously and reassessed in future.”

Royal College of Psychiatrists – Guidance for Health Care professionals on MUS.

Chair and Speakers Include:

Brian Rock

Director of Education & Training/Dean of Postgraduate Studies
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Thanos Tsapas

Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy and Service Lead Bristol Complex Psychological Interventions Service
Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust

Prof Mark Edwards

Professor of Neurology
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

In-house Training

This course can be held at your organisation for up 25 delegates, we can tailor the content to suit your organisation and CPD needs of your staff. Led by experienced and highly rated trainers, in-house training works out cost-effective for groups and saves travel time.

Enquire
Contact katym@hc-uk.org.uk with your requirements for further information and a quote.

In-house Training

Exhibition & Sponsorship Packages

This conference offers a valuable opportunity for industry suppliers to personally meet with their target audience where they will have time to talk and demonstrate the benefits of their products. High quality specialist audiences make having a presence at our events a highly targeted and cost effective marketing channel.

Why Exhibit?

Having a presence at this event will give you the opportunity to:

  • Demonstrate your product, system or service
  • Network and engage with your key audience  
  • Generate new business leads
  • Gain exposure for your brand and raise the profile of your organisation
  • Understand the current needs of your audience and challenges they’re facing
  • Update your knowledge of national policy and local developments  

Enquire

Contact Carolyn Goodbody for exhibition and sponsorship prices, or to discuss a tailored package to suit your needs and budget.

Supporting Organisations

Browser unsupported

You’re using an unsupported browser.

This website uses the latest web technology and your browser doesn't support those technologies at this time.

Please update to Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (on Mac) to view the full experience.