Welcome, Bienvenue, Bienvenido, Wilkommen 

As the Congress President for the 44^th European Hernia Society (EHS) Annual meeting, I would like to invite and subsequently welcome you to join me in Manchester in October 2022.

We must not forget that the last two years have been fraught with uncertainty seeing changes in every aspect of life because of a global pandemic.

In Manchester we are looking forward to a face-to-face meeting, to discuss both clinical and academic developments in research in Herniology from both Europe and across the globe. Increased emphasis will be placed on participation of young researchers with an expected 4-fold increase in the number of oral presentations both plenary and short cases. Sessions will also include debates on surgical technique, Multidisciplinary meetings on complex groin and AWR patients, a court room drama on potential litigation, reports on randomised trials, scientific data, and mesh controversies.

Industry will play a key role in the meeting as well as chance for surgeons to network as well as demonstrate innovative techniques with video presentations.

Manchester is very well-connected cosmopolitan city with an international airport, railway link, hotels, and restaurants for all to experience and enjoy.

We envisage a well-attended and lively meeting which will end with a gala dinner, show, and dance at the Manchester Central Congress centre situated in the city centre itself.

We in Manchester so much look forward to welcoming you in October 2022

On behalf of the British Hernia Society (BHS) and Registry

Congress President & President of BHS
Aali Sheen MD FRCS (Eng)
Consultant Surgeon & Hon Clinical Chair in Surgery, University of Manchester