Paddy Stone

(PS)

Julia Addington-Hall

(JAH)

Christina Mason

(CM)

Bridget Johnson

(BJ)

Gunn Grande

(GG)

Wendy Prentice

(WP)

June Gogg

(JG)

Gisela Field

(GF)

Ann Quinn

(AQ)

Paula Smith

(PSM)

Katherine Froggatt

(KF)

Jane Seymour

(JS)

Sheila Payne

(SP)

David Field

(DF)

Allison Worth

(AW)

Kirsty Boyd

(KB)

Susan Salt

(SS)

Bill Noble

(BC)

Keri Thomas

(KT)

Claire Douglas

(CD)

Joe Low

(JL)

Lara Alloway

(LA)

Jennie Burt

(JB)

Jonathan Koffman

(JK)

Jo Avmel

(JA)

Sam Ahmedzai

(SA)

Syed Qamar Abbas

(SQA)

Mike Bennett

(MB)

Chris Todd

(CT)

Julie Skilbeck

(JS)

Paul Shaw

(PS)

Christine Ingleton

(CI)

Mari Lloyd Williams

(MLW)

Duncan Brown

(DB)

Susie Wilkinson

(SW)

1.

Minutes of last meeting

Action

- Were agreed as an accurate record of events

2.

Matters Arising

JAH reported that nobody had applied for the PCRS bursaries to the PCC 2004. Two or three will be offered to the next conference – and will be better advertised.

3.

Outcome of nominations to the executive committee

PST reported that Jane Seymour had been appointed to the committee and that Paul Shaw, Paula Smith and Julie Skilbeck had been re-appointed. No election was necessary due to a shortage of candidates. There is still one vacancy on the committee and members were encouraged to put themselves forward.

4.

Chair's Report

JAH marked the passing of Frances Sheldon and noted her enormous contribution to the PCRS. It was noted that PCRS is considering the possibility of providing a bursary in her memory

JAH thanked Heather Endicott for her secretarial/organisational support, with organising the PCC and the one-day scientific meetings

JAH thanked MB and PST for their work for the committee over the previous year.

JAH thanked KF and JA who are both stepping down from the committee at this AGM

JAH recalled the meetings of the PCRS over the previous year and informed the membership of future study days / conferences.

The one day scientific meeting in Edinburgh 2003 was a great success – JAH expressed thanks to the organisers (JSP and GJ)

Next year PCRS will hold a one-day scientific meeting in Manchester. The organisers will be GG and CT

JAH reported that this year the abstract selection process for the PCC had been changed. Previously abstract selection had been the sole responsibility of the PCRS. This year the abstracts were selected by a scientific committee drawn from the three contributing organisations and chaired by a member of the association chiefly responsible for the PCC (in 2004 that was APM and the chair of the scientific committee for PCC was Sam Ahmedzai). It was reported that the new process appeared to have been a great success.

Approximately 190 abstracts were submitted of which approximately 25 were selected for oral presentation and 50 for poster presentation.

The next PCC will be chiefly organised by PCRS and the organising committee will be AQ PSM and MLW (chair)

In November 2004 PCRS will be putting on a study day on "Evaluating complex interventions"

In January 2005 PCRS will be organising a joint meeting with the RSM palliative care forum on cachexia

In the Spring of 2005 PCRS will be putting on a joint meeting with BPOS on the topic of "User Involvement"

In the Autumn of 2003 PCRS arranged a joint (with Marie Curie Cancer Care) Research methods workshops. Although this was well-evaluated the committee felt that PCRS energies should probably be directed towards other meetings in the coming year. Particularly as research methods courses were increasingly available elsewhere

JAH reported that PCRS had facilitated (and funded) a Professor's meeting to discuss matters of common interest to academic palliative care (including the RAE). The last meeting was held in Edinburgh in June 2003. Although these meetings are scheduled to continue it was not proposed that they should be funded by PCRS any longer.

5.

Treasurer’s report

MB reported that the current membership was approximately 100.

He noted that up to 200 people have been members of PCRS at one time or another – and reported that we were "targeting" former members who may simply have forgotten to re-new their membership.

To this end MB encouraged members to use standing orders to pay their fees and to try to pay in the first quarter of year. 50% of the membership are currently paying by standing order.

MB reported that the new membership list will be circulated in April 2004

MB reported that the PCRS currently has reserves of approximately £23,500. Annual subscription income totals approximately £2,500. Many of the PCRS meetings break even or make a small loss. MB proposed keeping the membership fee at £20. This was agreed unanimously.

MB reported on the progress towards obtaining charitable status. It was explained that since the last AGM legal advice had been sought. This advice suggested that becoming a charitable Trust rather than a limited company and a registered charity would be more appropriate for a society like the PCRS. The office holders (chair, secretary and treasurer) would become trustees and would take out Indemnity Insurance to cover any financial liabilities. Becoming a charitable Trust would entail less administrative burden than becoming a limited company and a registered charity. Plan to become a Charitable Trust in next couple of months.

Bill Noble: Asked about reserves and income and how that would affect decision to become a Charity or Charitable Trust. MB responded that legal advice would be sought, but that his understanding was that becoming a charitable trust was the best solution.

MB noted that the Trustees will be chair, secretary and treasurer, and that all three office holders are due to retire in June 2005. For this reason it was proposed that PS retire as planned in June 2005, that JAH serve an additional year (until June 2006) and that MB step down in June 2007. DF seconded this proposal. Carried unanimously.

JAH Explained why Committee felt need to keep hold of some reserves (some meetings can make a loss). JAH also expressed disappointment that the bursaries had not been taken up this year.

David Field: Suggested that one way to encourage uptake of bursaries would be to target supervisors/departments rather than students themselves. Moreover it was suggested that the award of bursaries should not be dependent upon having an abstract selected to present at the conference. JAH agreed with this sentiment and will consider this suggestion when the next call for bursaries is made.

6.

AOB

DF thanked the executive for their hard work during the previous year.

7.

Date of next meeting

To be announced