linkman Scheme
The Association can best represent the specialty of Anaesthesia by knowing and reflecting the views of an active membership. Maintaining that activity and sustaining the work of the Association are the prime duties of the AAGBI Linkmen.
The Linkman Scheme aims to maintain links and facilitate communication between members and the Association. The Association undertakes many important initiatives, which have a profound influence on the way anaesthetists practice. To be effective, these require the continuing participation of and input from all members.
The Linkman Scheme of the Association of Anaesthetists has now been functioning for thirty years and, throughout this period, has proved to be an extremely effective innovation. The main purpose of the scheme was to create a link between the Association Council and Officers and the membership throughout the UK and Ireland. This is a two way process and not only allows the expeditious dissemination of important information to the members but also allows us to hear your views. The Association undertakes many initiatives which have a significant influence on the way in which we practice and these require the continuing participation of, and comment from, the members.
Many changes have occurred in the last thirty years! Whilst it was envisaged that we would have a Linkman in every hospital, some departments proved to be too small and so “teamed up” with neighbouring departments. Many of the smaller hospitals have now closed and larger ones merged resulting in the amalgamation of several departments. This has led to some confusion with some “retiring” linkmen not having been replaced and some departments boasting more than one! Indeed some linkmen hold the position but have probably forgotten that they do so! The Membership Team is planning to resolve this situation in the forthcoming months.
Your Linkman is your representative on the Association and you should have one – do you know who S/he is? If not, try looking at the “Linkman Directory”.
Click here for a current Linkman Directory
If you can’t find a Linkman for your hospital or are still unsure then please contact Julie Gallagher Juliegallagher@aagbi.org or telephone 020 7631 8804.
It is possible that your department is one of the few without a representative. If this is the case and you would be interested in supporting your department in this role or know an Association member who would, then please contact Julie for further information.
Linkman Conference
A full day annual Linkman conference is held each year for Linkmen to discuss current topics of interest to all anaesthetists. It is an opportunity to initiate debate on matters that concern members. It is therefore important that members contact the Linkman in their department before the conference if they wish to raise topics.
Date of next Conference: 16th September 2008, Torquay
Linkman Web Portal
The Linkman Web Portal is a resource available to all Association Linkman. It offers secure access to reports, publications and news of specific interest to Linkman including the latest information on the Linkman Conference, past meeting reports and PowerPoint presentations from each meeting.
For further information regarding the Association's Linkman Scheme, please contact the Membership Department, 020 7631 8801 or members@aagbi.org.
Ian G. Johnston
Honorary Membership Secretary
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