WPJ History

The Welsh Paediatric Journal: Past, Present and Future
Cylchgrawn Pediatrig Cymru: Ddoe, Heddiw ac Yfory

(This history is entirely based on the Editorial written by John Morgan in Welsh Paed J 2005;23:5-8, with a little updating)

The Welsh Paediatric Journal was first published in 1989 and has gone from strength to strength. It is now well established and hopefully appreciated by all.

Over the years there have been many changes in the biannual academic meetings of the society. Originally it was the responsibility of the host department to offer all the presentations on the day. A guest speaker was chosen by the executive of the Welsh Paediatric Society. This format was changed in 1983 to invite presentations from all over Wales, particularly encouraging junior doctors to present their research findings. Often abstracts for the presentations were collated together in a small booklet to facilitate the meeting. From 1986 these abstracts were collated together in a bound volume called the Proceedings of the Welsh Paediatric Society.

Baj Ansari felt that these abstracts could be published more generally, together with invited papers, in a journal of our own. The Welsh Paediatric Journal was first published in 1989. The original copies were in A4 format and were financed by advertisements. Funding was extremely difficult to find initially and the intended publication of two volumes per year couldn’t always be met. This is reflected in the odd numbering of published journals in the early years.

In 1994 the Society undertook to support the Journal so that its publication was secured and that we could ensure that there were two volumes published each year.
The first edition of the Journal included invited articles and it is well worth reading those by John Dodge, Jo Sibert and Huw Jenkins; showing their quality and insight all those yars ago. Volumes initially included papers on paediatric oncology reflecting Baj’s personal interest. The format of the Journal was changed in 1992 to the AS type format with a more professional glossy cover. The Journal had definitely now come of age.

The most significant contribution to the journal has been by Professor David Davies (DP) who ultimately became its editor, returning from Hong Kong to become the new Professor of Child Health in Cardiff in 1989. One of his first duties was to make a contribution to the journal, his first article appearing in the second volume (Vol 1.2). Interestingly it is only in three or four volumes of the journal he has not made a contribution. In 1993 DP became joint editor with Baj Ansari.  DP has transformed the journal, both in quality and quantity, and volume 22 comprised some 122 pages. Special sections such as teaching, training, research in progress, clinical reviews, and defining moments and other sections have been introduced.

One section that hasn’t flourished has been the letters to the editors. This is something Prof Ansari was particularly keen on. He often wrote rather dramatic editorials hoping I am sure that we would all respond with letters and, thereby, initiate an interesting discussion on important matters particularly relating to children’s health issues but also for children’s advocacy in general.

Following Baj’s death in 1999, DP Davies became the editor. Again there was a change in the format of the journal. More Welsh was included in the content and the font type of the Journal went from black to green on the main pages.

DP’s first section on Myddfai in volume 23 is very important. Many of you will know the story of the physicians of Myddfai and the lady of the lake. The physicians were a noted medical family and served the area for many years. At that time, of course, the area is said to have permitted the cultivation and collection of unusual flora with a much wider variety of medicinal plants. The title is taken because they represented the ancient practices of our forebears. They are an inspiration to us all. DP is continuing with this section, but perhaps emphasising more on a historical perspective.
The Journal has always promoted undergraduate and postgraduate teaching with examples from many parts of the country and in fact all over the world. This mantle now falls on the academic departments in Cardiff, Swansea and North Wales. The article on postgraduate medical education in the 15th volume (22) was an excellent example and hopefully many will follow.

The recording of the history of paediatrics in Wales has taken the form of a special supplement published in 2003 as a supplement to Volume 18. This is a reprint of articles put together by Gerry Roberts and covers the early years (1930-1970) of paediatrics in Wales with particular emphasis on Pop Watkins in South Wales and Gwyn Griffiths in North Wales. In volume 22 Gwyneth Owen gave us a history of paediatrics in West Wales and Geraint Owens and his colleagues from Wrexham in volume 23 outline the changes in parts of North Wales from the 1970’s. Senior members from all over Wales have made similar contributions since and this perhaps is the best way to record the progress of paediatrics in Wales over the last 30 years or so.

The section ‘Cofio” remembers individuals as well as services.  We need to acknowledge the contributions of so many people who have developed and improved the care and services for children in Wales, particularly those working in the community or the smaller units. Changes in the configuration of services have not necessarily improved the care of all the children in Wales. John Morgan and DP Davies intend to collect all these memories as a special supplement in the near future.

Following Professor Davies’s retirement from the editorship of the journal early in 2005 the Journal went through a number of changes, with all the assistant editors  helping with special sections. John Morgan became editor (with Colin Powell sub-editor) for volume 23 in 2005, and he wrote "What we need is for everyone to help with the journal and for it to prosper as it has done since 1989. The future of the journal in the short term is secure, but we need to consider what we want of the journal. In what way can it contribute to our practice, our academic requirements? Can it become more interactive, should it address our CPD requirements, can it help to contribute to developing standard protocols and guidelines throughout Wales, in what way is it or should it distinguish from our college publications? How can it help us maintain our own identity as a Welsh Paediatric Society?"

At the autumn meeting in 2004 it was formally decided to fund the first WPS website development at www.welsh-paediatricsociety.org [1]. A webpage journal was hoped for: it has many attractive points. It is much more available for everyone. It was thought that we may not need to publish as many hard copies and, therefore, save money. Certainly members can quote their articles in a more accessible way. For this to happen though, John Morgan felt he must maintain the standards of the Journal and continue with the practice of all articles being peer reviewed to the high standards expected by Baj Ansari and DP Davies, and this he achieved.

In 2008 when John Morgan retired, Colin Powell became editor for volume 28 of the journal.  With a sub-editor in A Gandhi, and a team of sub-editors, the journal  again underwent some changes. In 2009 the journals began appearing in A4 size with volume 30, with the WPSU Annual Report for 2008 appearing in the same size; differing only in the use of green rather than red ink on the redesigned covers.

The next step is online submissions via the website.  In July 2010 the new website at www.welshpaeditrics.org.uk [2] went live, and there were some considerable advances with the journal webpage.  Members will be able to submit articles to the journal via the web rather than by email.  Hopefully this will encourage more people to contribute articles and the journal will become more interactive and perhaps achieve Baj Ansari’s aspirations after all.  We will be able to implement a really robust referee system to bring the journal up to international standards.

The Journal succeeds due to support by members who regularly and spontaneously submit articles, comments and criticisms if necessary.  We hope that with this support the Journal will continue to serve the Society, and Child life and Health in Wales, for many more years.

 

Officers of the Welsh Paediatric Society

Swyddogion Cymdeithas Pediatrig Cymru

1973 – 2012    

                                                

President / Llywydd

Iolo Doull

 

Past President / Cyn Llywydd

G Owen

 

Secretary / Ysgrifenydd

Mair Parry

 

Regional Adviser in Paediatrics / Cynghorwr Rhanbarthol Mewn Pediatrig

Peter Dale

 

Deanery Lead for Paediatrics / Arweinydd Pediatreg y Ddeoniaeth

Helen Fardy

 

 

 

President/Llywydd                                    Secretary/Ysgrifenydd

 

Gwyn Griffiths	1973 – 1974	Bob Prosser	1973 – 1978
Percy Bray	1974 – 1976	Trefor Jones	1978 – 1984
E G Roberts	1976 – 1978	Tom Yuille	1984 – 1987
W Davies	1978 – 1980	Geraint Owens	1987 – 1990
W Forbes	1980 – 1982	Phil Edwards	1990 – 1993
R Prosser	1982 – 1984	Arabinda Palit	1993 – 1994
R H T Jones	1984 – 1986	John Morgan	1994 – 1999
R Verrier-Jones	1986 – 1988	Duncan Cameron	1999 – 2002
Tony Griffiths	1988 – 1990	Iolo Doull	2002 – 2006
John Cawdery	1990 – 1992	Justin Warner	2006 – 2009
Viv Woolley	1992 – 1994
B M Ansari	1994 – 1996
P D Ll Edwards	1996 – 1998
R J H Morgan	1998 – 2002
J R Sibert	2002 – 2005
G Owen	2005 – 2008