Doctors descend on destination for major international conference
More than 600 medical professionals from across the world will descend on NewcastleGateshead this week for a major international conference, underlining the medical expertise the destination boasts.
The Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association (OAA) will hold its international convention, ‘Obstetric Anaesthesia 2010’ at The Sage Gateshead over three days from 19th May, with discussion and debate focussing on the safety of mother and baby during pregnancy. Seminars and presentations will explore issues on the prevention of accidental harm from anaesthetic drug overdose and challenges faced by mothers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Obstetric Anaesthesia 2010 is set to inject an estimated £553,000 into the local economy, with the conference also comprising a full social programme, including tours of Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall, giving many of the first-time visitors to the region a sense of the modern and historic mix that makes NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area such a powerful draw for international business visitors.
Jessica Roberts, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “We look forward to welcoming medical professionals from all corners of the globe to our beautiful destination. The Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association meeting is just one of a range of major international medical conferences coming to NewcastleGateshead, with the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and the European Society for Paediatric Research both secured for next year. Economically it’s of great benefit to the region, but intellectually too it underlines the great academic and medical strengths here.”
Trisha Hawkins of the OAA Secretariat, said: “NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau has provided invaluable support with the organisation of this major international gathering. We’re confident that practitioners from around the world will be impressed with the venue and destination and the range of interesting social activities that NewcastleGateshead and the wider area offers in abundance.”
Tim Meek, consultant anaesthetist at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and local organiser for the conference, said: “It is a great honour and a coup that we have been able to bring this year’s conference to NewcastleGateshead. It is wonderful to have delegates converge on North East England from all over the world to hear from our local and international speakers about real improvements in patient care that we can all make. The work of the OAA impacts positively on the care of mothers and babies around the world.”
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For further information:
David Bootle, Media and PR Manager – Business, NewcastleGateshead Initiative
Tel: 0191 440 5741, Mob: 07766993925 or email david.bootle@ngi.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) is the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead. Its mission is to position and promote NewcastleGateshead as a leading European destination for leisure and business visitors through cultural programming, event bidding and high-profile, targeted destination marketing and PR activity. Created in 2000 by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council as a publicly and privately funded business, NGI has developed a strong brand for the area – promoting it nationally and internationally as a place at the forefront of innovative culture-led regeneration and a world-class place to live, learn, work and visit.
• NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau uses local knowledge and expertise to help organise conferences, meetings or events in NewcastleGateshead and the surrounding area. It provides a free service including arranging everything from venue sourcing and booking, to accommodation, transport and entertainment for delegates. With a huge choice of state-of-the-art venues NewcastleGateshead is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular destinations whether it’s for a meeting of 10 people or a conference for thousands.
• It is estimated that visitors to NewcastleGateshead from around the UK and overseas contribute £1.2bn to the local economy.
• Press releases and copyright-free hi-res images on NewcastleGateshead are available from our website www.NewcastleGateshead.com
• The Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association (OAA) was formed in 1969 to promote the highest standards of anaesthetic practice in the care of mother and baby and has an international membership of over 2000. For further information visit: http://www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk