Patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal addressed more than 300 delegates at RCEM’s Annual Scientific Conference in Gateshead last week (10 October 2024).
Her Royal Highness praised the dedication of Emergency Medicine professionals and highlighted the work of the NHS workforce, in particular Emergency Departments, with the Covid outbreak and high workloads.
The Princess Royal was greeted at the conference venue by Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and Catherine Feast, RCEM’s Director of Engagement and External Affairs.
Her Royal Highness viewed the winning submissions from the poster competition and met the designers, and then went on to meet the abstract authors, discussing their studies which focused on key issues facing Emergency Medicine.
The Princess Royal further engaged with speakers and delegates before listening to Professor Richard Body from the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who delivered his presentation on how to optimise shared decision making for patients with chest pain.
Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “It was a great honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to our conference.
“Once again, she showed her understanding of the specialty, her interest in the people who work in it, and her awareness of the challenges it faces.
“We are so lucky to have such an engaged and passionate patron, and I know it means so much for those members who were able to meet and chat with her about their work.”
Catherine Feast, Director of Engagement and External Affairs at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “Her Royal Highness’s presence at our Annual Scientific Conference marks the second event The Princess Royal has attended this year and we are so grateful she gives us so much of her time.
“As ever, our delegates were delighted to have her here and to hear her support for the specialty.
“She is a fabulous royal patron, and we are honoured to have had her visit us last week.”
The Princess, who has been royal patron of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine since 2008, previously attended RCEM’s trainee conference, which was also held in Gateshead in February 2024.