European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

The tenth anniversary meeting of the EPUAPat Oxford was a great success with more than 450 attendees. A summary of the meeting by Tracy Cowan, Deputy Editor of the Journal of Wound Care, appeared in their journal in October and a copy of the article follows my report. As Tracy pointed out in her publication there were many highlights of the meeting one of which was the Japanese session, which focussed on the main features and unique advances in the field of pressure ulcer care in Japan. The abstracts of the Japanese session are included in this issue as well as other abstracts of presentations.

A lecture in progress during the Tenth anniversary meeting of the EPUAP, in Oxford.

President of the Japanese Society for Pressure Ulcers, Professor Takahiko Moriguchi and organisers of the World Union Meeting.

The Shear Force Initiative Group at the Oxford Conference.

Professor Steven Reger (Cleveland Clinic) giving his presentation at the Shear Force Initiative.

The Shear Force Initiative Group, which was started at the EPUAP meeting in Aberdeen in May 2005, had a well attended follow-up session in Oxford which was sponsored by Gaymar and took place on the day preceding the main meeting. This initiative continues to shed a new understanding and data on this complex subject related to pressure ulcers.

The EPUAP is an official supporting association of the Third Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies to be held in Toronto, Canada, 4-8 June 2008. (Information including registration and accommodation forms can be obtained from worldunion2008.com.)

Katrien Vanderwee from the University of Gent has written an update on the major EPUAP guideline initiative which she is co-ordinating. The EPUAP appreciates the financial support of the following companies; Hill-Rom, Huntleigh, KCI and Numico, who through educational grants have made this project possible.

Arrangements for our 11th Annual Meeting in Bruges, 4-6 September 2008, are progressing well, with the theme: 'Risk management and early detection’. In November we had a site visit with our corporate sponsors at the venue 'Oud Sint Jan’, an old hospital now made into a modern conference centre, which is in the centre of Bruges and close to the hotels. A registration form and announcement can be found in this issue of the Review, and we would suggest that you fill in and return the form - particularly the accommodation section - as September is a busy tourist month in Bruges. As part of the social events there will be a mediaeval banquet with entertainment on the first night, which is included in the registration fee.

We look forward to seeing you in Bruges.

Dr George W. Cherry

EPUAP Business Office