London vet show

Re: London vet show

rob chapman — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:46:44 GMT

Hi Martin,

Apologies for the delay in responding. I am the Event Director for the London Vet Show (so as you can imagine it has been a bit of a busy month!). with regards to the move to a Thursday/Friday this is a change that we made after a lot of research and altough in general this worked really well I'm obviously disappointed not to have you back at the show again this year.

We will be running on Thursday and Friday again in 2012, the venue is all booked so nigh on impossible to change but we will reassess things for the 2013 show.

Rob

Re: London vet show

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:50:34 GMT

[quote user="Pádraig Egan"]

I heard he has a submarine and jet-powered back-pack.

[/quote]

Ladies and Gentlemen: I present to you - the SUBMACOPTER! A submarine that can also FLY!!!!

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1294

(Safe for work - ignore the comic, the "schematic" is 3 panels down)

Re: London vet show

Pádraig Egan — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:04:45 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="David Mills"]

The profession sorely needs people like Noel Fitzpatrick. Not just for the advancements he makes in orthopaedics, but for his no-nonsense approach to things that the profession generally is complacent about - OA being one of them. Yes, you may not agree with the ethics of how advanced his techniques are in the context of veterinary medicine (limb-sparing in OSA for instance), which is fine, but he makes a great point when he says it is for us to give the options and advise, not egotistically, dogmatically tell people what to do. And he comes from a deep care for patient welfare, regardless of his financial rewards.

Snipes such as those above are petty, immature, and reek of jealousy: it is the preserve of the successful and maverick to be scorned by the conservatives (?90%), and, I proffer, likely comes from those 20-30years+ qualified.

For the more open minded, I urge you to see him speak.

[/quote]

If this is aimed at me, I agree wholeheartedly with all of the above. It is impossible not to feel some envy, if not jealousy, for what he has achieved and for the celebrity and reward it has brought him. However, I reiterate that the nickname is not one I gave him and I still believe that in the lecture I went to he spent too much time selling himself and not the topic he had been no doubt paid quite well to talk about and about which he admitted he was not suitably qualified. I didn't go to LVS this year so did not attend his lecture so the only cheap shot I've taken is to assume he did the same there when maybe he did not. However given the stars I got for my original post I am not the only one who thought that way.

[/quote]

If you get the nurses to like your posts it doesn't count!

Re: London vet show

Pádraig Egan — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:52:44 GMT

I attended the lecture and have a very different outlook on what I experienced! I thought the discussion on OA endeavored to focus on both the medical and surgical management of a debilitating condition. I spoke to numerous people regarding the content and found the majority of people were fascinated about what could actually be offered to our patients. Stuart Carmichael's input on the medical management of OA is a world class approach to the non-surgical management of the condition and outlined a structured approach to management rather than repeat prescription checks which sadly all too often is the approach taken to the management of OA.

Its time to embrace the future for our patients; offering them the best medical and surgical intervention we can to provide longevity and functionality. I have no problems with someone standing on a stage and showing exactly what can be done. I do however take great exception to attending orthopaedic CPD lectures and all too often sitting through a review of Brinker and the BSAVA Manual of Fracture Management. I want to gain new ideas from CPD not utilise such expensive events as an excuse not to have to read a book myself.

Anyway I heard he doesn't have a Ferrari. I heard he has a submarine and jet-powered back-pack.

Re: London vet show

Virginia Campbell — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:13:48 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Reminds me of Martin O'Neill on speed[/quote]

So THAT's who he looks like. I spent the entire lecture trying to work it out. Martin o'Neill doesn't have a mid Atlantic accent though.

Re: London vet show

patrick murphy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:37:41 GMT

wow. I was enjoying your post, but choked on the Ferrari, now I am jealous.

Re: London vet show

Bob Russell — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:57:44 GMT

I haven't had any dealings with Dr Fitzpatrick so pretty much all I know about him is similar to the general public s. I think his TV profile is very positive and brings the idea of specialist practices into the public domain. my only concern was the lack of information about costs which would have boosted insurance rates.

Some self-promotion at CPD is inevitable. Speakers and sponsors do not do things just for the love of it! This keeps a lot of interesting CPD affordable and easily accessible to the GP vet.

No I don't want a Ferrari so I am not envious of that (it would not go up the long track to our house!). A Masserati? Perhaps because they are prettier! Good job too as they are usually stationary because they have broken down again!

Re: London vet show

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:56:36 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]

I went to a lecture on feline arthritis given by Noel Fitzpatrick a couple of years ago, my experience was the reverse of yours, about 50 minutes on feline arthritis and a ten minute plug for his practice.

We refer most of our orthopaedic cases to his practice, it's about 15 miles from us, and they do a good job.

[/quote]

26/02/2008 in Camberley my CPD certificate states - could it be the same occasion and did we see it from different perspectives? I don't doubt his skills, he is a very hard worker, deserves the accolades he gets, I am not knocking him as a vet and I am very envious of his facilities, I just don't like it being shoved down my throat and I don't think an independant CPD lecture is the place for self-promotion. Sour grapes on my behalf maybe?, I'm the first to accept criticism, I just feel he's a bit insincere.

[/quote]

I think it was the same occasion, haven't got my certificate to hand at the moment. I wonder which one of us remembers it correctly, or somewhere in the middle maybe!

Re: London vet show

David Mills — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:27:48 GMT

It wasn't aimed at yourself Mr Atkinson, but rather the general tutting and negativity one meets when discussing it with colleagues; I am well aware you were speaking from personal experience and using a very common nickname for him. Celebrity isn't ideal for anyone, least of all professionals, but, related to another thread, he's probably single handedly done more for vet PR in the last few years than all our sorry organisations put together. It's natural to be envious of success - the quickest way to lose friends - but nevertheless we as a profession should embrace people like him.

Re: London vet show

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:06:48 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

For the more open minded, I urge you to see him speak.

[/quote]

Re: London vet show

David Mills — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:14:37 GMT

And, overall, the show was OK. Too crowded - people sitting on the floor to eat lunch was demeaning. Lectures were good breadth but nothing really groundbreaking - more like a refresher course, which is fine, but it barely ticks the 'BSAVAlite' box. And the external noise during the lectures was annoying, and amateurish. Got the feeling more of a trade show.

Re: London vet show

David Mills — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:11:04 GMT

For the more open minded, I urge you to see him speak.

Re: London vet show

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:01:27 GMT

[quote user="Judith Joyce"]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] by 'Knowall' Fitzpatrick before[/quote]

Yep, Noel is such an easy target, and that isn't the first cheap shot that someone has taken at him........

.................but how many of his detractors have had a bunch of papers published in international vet journals, get invited regularly to speak at national and international vet meetings, have an honorary degree awarded, have been appointed as a visiting Prof at a prominent US vet school, regularly receive plaudits as a most entertaining and informative speaker, win awards from national vet associations, star in their own TV series, run an academically, clinically and financially successful veterinary practice AND drive a ferrari?????

Malcolm N

[/quote]

erm....none? However I didn't coin this name, I have it on good authority from a colleague of yours and and mutual friend that this is his nickname amongst fellow orthopods. It doesn't mean I have to hear about it at every opportunity though does it? And a Ferrari - well that's where your argument goes wrong Malcolm.

Re: London vet show

Judith Joyce — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:43:42 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] by 'Knowall' Fitzpatrick before[/quote]

Yep, Noel is such an easy target, and that isn't the first cheap shot that someone has taken at him........

Malcolm N

Re: London vet show

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:21:18 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]

We refer most of our orthopaedic cases to his practice, it's about 15 miles from us, and they do a good job.

[/quote]

Re: London vet show

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:06:18 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I've been to a lecture on arthritis by 'Knowall' Fitzpatrick before: there was ten minutes on arthritis and the rest was just an exercise in self-aggrandisement and an excuse to tell us about his wonderful hospital and how clever he is doing prosthetic limbs and all - I knew more about arthritis in cats than he did and he actually admitted it! Is that unfair of me or do others have that experience? Give me a red star if I'm wrong.

[/quote]

We refer most of our orthopaedic cases to his practice, it's about 15 miles from us, and they do a good job.

Re: London vet show

Mark Rowland — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:48:41 GMT

Re: London vet show

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:46:46 GMT

Reminds me of Martin O'Neill on speed.

Re: London vet show

Mark Rowland — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:37:53 GMT

So's Peter Kay. If I want an evening off being entertained, I know which I would choose

Re: London vet show

Laurence Webb — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:42:13 GMT

Ah, but he's entertaining to watch.

Re: London vet show

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:38:05 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

I was at the Fitzpatrick lecture!

[/quote]

Re: London vet show

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:43:34 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]Didn't realize that was you with the little camera! :)[/quote]

Well, hopefully next year I'll be able to upgrade from 'me with a little camera' to 'full vetsurgeon.org-branded production, including multiple dolly-mounted cameras, boom microphones, a team of markeup artists and Martin Scorsese directing'.

Re: London vet show

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:54:02 GMT

I was at the Fitzpatrick lecture! Didn't realize that was you with the little camera! :)

Re: London vet show

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:08:54 GMT

And here is my video of the commercial exhibition

www.youtube.com/watch

[quote user="patrick murphy"]only complaint was that just like aeroports, they are always playing catch up with the numbers, so can imagine a new venue at some point.[/quote]

I'm told that it will remain at Olympia next year, but expand into the West Hall.

Re: London vet show

patrick murphy — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:28:53 GMT

I must admit that I went with low expectations and primarily an excuse to stay and play with friends in the big smoke, but I was gobsmacked at the quality of the lectures, the sheer amount of commercial exhibits, and the overall organisition of the the event.

only complaint was that just like aeroports, they are always playing catch up with the numbers, so can imagine a new venue at some point.