After the wonderful response of the membership to Perinatal Medicine 2008 we returned to the Harrogate International Centre for Perinatal 2011. This meeting was the second between the four major UK perinatal societies and attracted in excess of 700 delegates. It incorporated members of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, The Neonatal Society and the Neonatal Nurses Society. The conference ran over 2 1/2 days providing time for a number of 'side' meetings to occur such as the first open meeting of the PTB CSG.
Feedback was extremely positive and the quality of the scientific presentations very high. Overall the general feedback about the venue, entertainment and programme was very positive.
The BMFMS society lecture was given by Professor Roberto Romero who spoke on the role on intra-amniotic infection/inflammation in preterm labour and fetal injury. Other key note speakers included
Professor Jay Iams-inequalities related to preterm birth
Professor Catherine Williamson-hepatitis in pregnancy
Professor Kurt Hecher-intrauterine growth restriction in monochorionic twins
A number of the BAPM/NNS/NNA sessions focussed on fetal and neonatal brain injury and in particular there was much discussion of the use of xenon as a neuroprotective agent.
Perinatal 2011 was the last conference with Professor Steven Robson in the position of BMFMS president. His tenure has seen a vast increase in the ouptut of the society in terms of consultations and representation on both RCOG and department of health committees. Professor Mark Kilby was elected as the new BMFMS president.