Who can attend?

This is an open invitation to all and we are already expecting lay people, doctors, nurses, paramedics, physios, medical students, paramedics and OHPs to attend. NO expedition experience or past WMT involvement is necessary though we're looking forward to seeing many familiar faces and old friends. If you want to get a foot onto the expedition ladder, this weekend will give you a practical, fascinating insight.

CPD

We estimate that this programme is worth up to 14 CPD credits. See this page related to ACCREDITATION.

Teaching team - faculty, guest speakers & instructors

We have assembled an all-star WMT cast to deliver medical and non-medical expedition related seminars and workshops. Already we have ophthalmic consultant Mr Dan Morris, Dr Tariq Qureshi, Matron James Moore, physio Charlie McCall, Dr Andy Grieve, altitude medicine expert Dr Nick Mason, palliative care Professor Karen Forbes, Dr Paddy Morgan, Dr Lucy Obolensky, Dr Jeremy Evans, Dr Patrick Avery, polar expert Tim Burton + WMT's Directors Dr Jon Dallimore and Barry Roberts on the teaching team. Read more about our team here.

Confirmed programme

Friday - arrive evening for B&B (or arrive Saturday morning) Informal pub gathering Saturday 0900 - 1230 The morning is devoted to a series of special lectures exploring and charting the developments in expedition medical practice over the last 20 years, highlighting the diverse environments we work in and the medical challenges they present and the many and varied opportunities for medics to use their skills in an expedition context. Lecture and presentation topics include: • 20 years of WMT - where we've come from and we are we going - download the keynote address by WMT Commercial Director Barry Roberts - ADVENTURE IN THE LAST TWO DECADES • What's new in travel medicine? • Mountain medicine - what we've learned in 2 decades • Cold injuries - latest management principles • Quick fire expedition vignettes - experiences & considerations; working with youth, working with TV crews, charitable clinical work in remote regions and vehicle based expeditions • Expedition opportunities speed dating; short presentations from who's recruiting, what they do, what they offer and who they are looking for Lunch 1330 - 1830 This afternoon is a chance to pick and mix from a variety of practical, skill based workshops and sessions, indoors or out. Sessions include: • crag rescue with a mountain rescue doctor (2 hrs) • security on steep ground; practical rope tricks for beginners (1 hr) • navigation and GPS training (2 hr) • living in the jungle; hammocks, bashas and using dangerous cutting tools! (2 hrs) • preparing for polar travel (1.5 hrs) • expedition photography (1 hr) • expedition writing - how to write press releases, sponsorship letters & publishing stories of your adventures (1 hr) • physiotherapy for expeditions, including practical strapping (1.5) • assembling a suitable medical kit and legal aspects (1 hr) • half day canoe expedition (+ extra local charge - tbc) • high ropes "go-ape" type course (2 hrs + local extra charge tbc) Dinner & party! Sunday 0900 - 1230 Special topics lecture programme • Field analgesia, new directions • Wilderness ophthalmology & how to set up a medical research programme on expedition • Altitude medicine and the work of the IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) & how to get involved Lunch 1330 - 1600 On the final afternoon we offer a reduced selection of practical sessions and workshops as per PM on Saturday to ensure that most people will be able to attend most sessions: • security on steep ground; practical rope tricks for beginners (1 hr) • navigation and GPS training (1.5 hrs) • living in the jungle; hammocks, bashas and using dangerous cutting tools! (1.5 hrs) • preparing for polar travel (1 hr) • expedition photography (1 hr) • physiotherapy for expeditions, including practical strapping (1 hr) • assembling a suitable medical kit and legal aspects (1 hr) + three other sequential 1 hour sessions (pitched at Explorers - laypeople - & Far From Help Part 2/Advanced Refresher Plus students) • advanced airway management including the use of oxygen & chemical oxygen • fractures, dislocations and field management - practical splinting incorporated into outdoor scenarios • medical, trauma and paediatric scenarios - more practice outside 1600 open forum and panel discussion - WMT's experts answer your questions 1630 close & depart

Expedition opportunities

We are casting our net far and wide to invite organisations that recruit expedition/overseas project medics to send a rep to the weekend so you can meet them first-hand and find out what's out there; sort of like speed-dating without the stigma! If your organisation requires expedition medics and would like to be part of the congress, please contact WMT. Already we're expecting the Jubilee Sailing Trust and Raleigh International.

How you can get involved

Of course you can just attend the congress and take it all in, but we're also inviting WMT alumni to get in touch if you have an area of expertise related to expeditions, an outdoor skill or remote medicine that you can give a talk on or run a workshop about. We really want to harness and showcase the experience of our accomplished alumni.

Fees

We absolutely guarantee that this is THE BEST VALUE expedition medicine course available in the UK (about HALF the price of what our main competitors charge, like for like). To encourage the widest attendance we have kept the all inclusive fee to 2/3rds off the usual price (£295) of our weekend UK courses. The fee of just £195 is all inclusive of the weekend programme, course notes, two night's accommodation, all meals from Saturday breakfast to Sunday lunch, tea/coffee breaks and 20% VAT. The same price applies to all congress guests.

Timings, Venue & Travel

Arrive Friday night for B&B or Saturday morning. The congress will be held at the Malvern Hills Outdoor Education Centre, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, which is well served by road, rail and air. The nearest airports are Bristol and Birmingham. Plug post code WR14 4NR into the AA route planner to plan your travel. Accommodation is in modern single-sex dorm rooms with plenty of shower facilities. Sign up to the congress event on our Facebook group to organise ride sharing with others. If you don't want to stay at the centre visit this website for other local accommodation options.

More information

For more detailed programme information, logistical notes, a kit list and other useful pre-event information you can download the event Welcome Note.

Special Far From Help Part 2/Advanced Refresher PLUS programme for Explorer alumni

For WMT Explorer alumni (if you've attended Far From Help or Advanced Medicine in the last three years) we are capitalising on having so many expert WMT instructors in one place and are pleased to offer a special Far From Help Part 2/Advanced Refresher PLUS course in parallel to the main anniversary programme. FFH 2 Plus runs Saturday to Sunday lunch. Thereafter delegates can choose from the range of elective sessions on offer to everyone attending the weekend or the 3 new, extra Explorer sessions listed above. On Saturday evening FFH 2 delegates are invited to join the evening bash. This FFH 2+ course is priced separately. See this page for details.