Leeds welcomes robotic & keyhole surgery healthcare conference to the city this November

ConferenceLeeds, the conference bureau for the city of Leeds, is excited to welcome the 19th annual British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (BAPES) scientific meeting to the Crowne Plaza Hotel from the 7-8 November. This annual event, will be visiting Leeds, bringing over 120 delegates to the city to discuss new developments in robotics and paediatric keyhole surgery. The conference will be preceded by a workshop at Leeds General Infirmary on the 6th of November.

The BAPES2019 scientific programme is an educational conference which aims to help professionals in the sector develop and improve surgical techniques, learn new ways of working, network with leaders in the field and develop their careers. This year offers a new and varied conference programme, which for the first time will cover a spectrum of paediatric minimally invasive and robotic surgery. In addition to posters and presentations of scientific papers, the programme highlights include robotic vs laparoscopic debates, how-to sessions with invited experts, medico-legal and education sessions and the inaugural BAPES university challenge quiz.

The largest discussion point at the conference will be robotic surgery, with the conference featuring a talk on robotic and laparoscopic surgery from Naved Alizai, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and ex-president of the British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (BAPES). Naved, who is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds and an Honorary Professor of Paediatric Surgery at the University of Suzhou in China, will provide delegates with insight designed to improve outcomes for infants and children undergoing minimally invasive surgery, and will also include a robotic simulation as part of the session.

Naved Alizai said: “We are very much looking forward to hosting the 2019 event in Leeds this year, and are especially excited because of the innovative and ground-breaking programme on offer this year. We know that the programme offers a wide scope for discussion on a range of topics, and will be extremely inclusive for all attendees. We’re grateful to ConferenceLeeds for all of their work helping us to organise the conference this year, working closely with us to secure the venue, which is perfect for us as it’s so central and has a wide range of quality hotels within walking distance. Finally, we were able to provide all of this at such good value due to the rates available in Leeds, which will help delegates from all levels attend.”

Leeds has always been a leader in Paediatric Keyhole and Robotic Surgery on an international scale. The founding member of BAPES, Azad Najmaldin, regarded as the father of keyhole surgery for children in UK by some, worked at Leeds Children’s Hospital. The robotic service for children in Leeds is the largest robotic centre in the world and offers procedures not offered in any other unit. Mr Naved Alizai is the only proctor of Paediatric Robotic General Surgery for Europe, with the only other proctor for paediatric robotic urology also working in Leeds.

Claire Heap, Head of ConferenceLeeds, commented: “We’re so happy to be welcoming the BAPES2019 conference to Leeds for the first time, and even more so as Naved will be speaking at the conference about the important and leading work that the University of Leeds is doing in this field. Leeds has a world-leading health sector, with a specialism in technology enabled healthcare, and being chosen to host this year’s conference is a huge boost for the city. We can’t wait to welcome the delegates and the conference to the city in November and to see the further developments being made within the field as a lasting legacy from the conference.”

Established in 1999, BAPES seeks to improve standards in paediatric minimally invasive surgery by promoting research and learning opportunities. The organisation has instituted a number of fellowships and awards to encourage study in paediatric minimally invasive surgery. BAPES support their members in their professional development by organising advanced training and scholarship courses designed to improve outcomes for infants and children undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Naved Alizai, Becky Lisseter, Helen Carter
Local organising committee