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This blog reflects personal views and is written in accordance with the NMC Social Media Guidelines and the Code of Conduct. All patient details are anonymised or excluded.

We’re back!

After a bit of a hiatus, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s Upper GI and Bariatric Team will once again step into the academic limelight at the upcoming BOMSS Journal Club on 9th July 2025 – we’re proudly flying the flag with not one but two presentations.

The BOMSS Journal Club, hosted monthly and streamed live on the BOMSS YouTube Channel, is a fantastic platform for bariatric units across the UK to come together, share insights, and most importantly – talk about research that actually matters to our clinical practice. Each session features two studies presented (or critiqued) by different bariatric centres, encouraging open discussion, shared learning, and occasionally some healthy disagreement (because, research).

The last time Taunton featured was back in June 2022, when I represented the Allied Health Professional (AHP) contingent. That was my debut in front of the BOMSS crowd – a mixture of adrenaline, caffeine and sheer willpower got me through it. It was fun… in a ‘why am I doing this to myself again’ sort of way.

This year, both of my bariatric specialist nursing colleagues politely declined the honour of presenting, which meant the burden—sorry, opportunity—of representing the nursing perspective fell squarely on my shoulders again.

After some careful searching, I’ve chosen a Spanish cohort study published in late 2024, titled:

👉 “Nursing in Bariatric Surgery: Cross-Sectional Study of Competencies in Clinical Practice”

📄 Access the full study here

Why this study?

Because it speaks to the heart of what we do.

It explores the competency levels of nurses working in bariatric surgery, highlights common gaps, and offers insight into how structured training and ongoing development can directly impact the quality of care in bariatric settings. At Somerset, we’re constantly aiming to ensure that our bariatric nurses are not just present, but proficient, empowered and valued in delivering complex obesity care.

I’ll be presenting a critical appraisal of the study—discussing strengths, limitations, and its relevance to UK practice—hoping to spark a discussion that helps move bariatric nursing forward.

The second study on the night will be presented by our very own Bariatric Fellow, Ahmed Aber.

Now, Ahmed has been keeping tight-lipped about what he’s presenting—so I’ll be tuning in with the rest of you, curious (and slightly nervous) to find out what he’s got up his sleeve.

So if you’re free on 9th July, grab a cuppa (or something stronger), log onto the BOMSS YouTube Channel, and join us for what promises to be a great evening of research, reflection, and robust discussion.

Let’s keep talking, learning, and pushing bariatric practice forward—together.

See you there (virtually)!