The day-long conference dealt with a wide range of issues, including women’s empowerment, compassionate leadership, artificial intelligence, workforce race equality standards, regulatory framework, and GIRFT (get it right first time)
Over 130 delegates registered for the conference, which was addressed by eminent experts in their fields, including Former First Ministers Lord Carwyn Jones and Prof Mark Drakeford and Jane Hutt MS, Minister for Social Responsibility and Chief Whip.
Prof Hasmukh Shah BEM welcomed the delegates and introduced the work being done by BAPIO on behalf of the 60,000 doctors of Indian origin in the UK.
Prof Keshav Singhal CBE, addressing the conference, said that BAPIO was not in the business of identity politics, and its membership was open to all in pursuance of its stated aims of promoting excellent patient care through equality, diversity and inclusion. He highlighted the success of BAPIO Wales in lobbying for and introducing WRES in Wales and told the gathering that they were working on an informal resolution of complaints through the “3 wise people ” concept.
The Health Minister, Jeremy Miles, was the Chief Guest and expressed keen interest in BAPIO’s work. He reminisced about his time at the BAPIO National conference in Bristol last year and was very interested in the pathbreaking work being done by the BAPIO Training Academy.
Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of two propositions
1. Should frontline workers be prioritised for NHS Treatment? 89% YES
2. Is the current NHS leadership structure fit for purpose? 96% NO
The day conference was followed by the conference banquet at the Mercure Cardiff North Hotel with 140 delegates attending. Jo Stevens, the Secretary of State for Wales, was the Chief Guest and praised the work done by BAPIO in her address. Other notable guests included the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Mrs Morfudd Meredith, MP for Vale of Glamorgan, Kanishka Narayan, and Assembly Member for Cardiff, Julie Morgan.
Prof Hasmukh Shah BEM introduced the 3 awardees for the BAPIO Wales awards
Dr Neetha Byrappa- Women’s role model
Mr Anil Singhal: Professional Excellence
Mr Sandeep Hemmadi: Compassionate Leadership
Prof Ramesh Mehta CBE wrapped up the day-long conference and banquet by taking all the participants and acknowledged the hard work that had gone into it to make the conference a resounding success
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