The Society is currently reviewing the remit of its Standing Committees and related infrastructure. Regular updates will be made to this section as the work of the Implementation Group continues in 2008. The aim of the re-structuring is to make sure that the Committees and associated Advisory Groups and communications systems are effectively aligned to enable the Society to meet its strategic objectives.
Four new Committees are proposed. Working titles:-
Standards Committee. This Committee will have 2 responsibilities. Guideline development on specific diseases, procedures and processes of care will remain the primary focus for this Committee, working in partnership with relevant others. The Committee will also develop a role in identifying gaps in knowledge and advising on priority areas for research. It will be tasked with making these known to the UK Respiratory Research Collaborative and the national lead for the comprehensive local Research Networks.
Professional & Organisational Standards Committee. This Committee will be charged with monitoring individuals and systems against current standards. For individuals, this will involve the Committee working closely with others (Royal Colleges, for example) in connection with certification, revalidation (re-certification) and governance issues, to ensure that the specialty content is properly represented. In relation to monitoring systems, the Committee will develop a programme of benchmarking and audit in a planned cycle using the new BTS data collection and survey tool, and will monitor respiratory information produced by others.
Education Committee. The aim of this Committee is to help individuals to reach the required standards. The Committee will continue to organise the Society's programme of educational activities, (short courses and the BTS Summer Meeting) and its role will be expanded to include e-learning, according to the Society's agreed strategy. There will be a continued focus on working with others to provide activities which will be of benefit to a multi-disciplinary audience, and the topics offered will be related to training curricula and to dissemination of key messages in the Society's (and other relevant) Guidelines.
Workforce Committee. The purpose of this Committee is to ensure that there are sufficient individuals available to deliver care to agreed standards. Traditionally the BTS Workforce Committee has focussed on the medical workforce, but there will now also be close liaison with other healthcare professional groups regarding their workforces to ensure a synergy of activity. The Committee will also be responsible for taking forward the Society's work in relation to promotion and support of Less Than Full Time Training and Working.
Specialist & Professional Advisory Groups
Underpinning these 4 main Committees is a network of Specialist and Professional Advisory Groups. These have been established to provide an efficient conduit of information and support to and from Trustees and the Standing Committees. Specialist Advisory Groups (SAGs) will hold an annual open meeting for discussion with the broader membership of the Society about developments in the specialism concerned (usually at the Society's Winter Meeting) and may also host a discussion forum (or blog) for interested members. They will be asked to suggest topics for educational activities and Winter Meeting symposia; to referee abstracts; to provide expert opinion for NICE and other consultations; and to be involved in "horizon scanning" so that the Society can stay in the forefront of development of standards. A list of existing SAGs can be found here. At present, there is also one Professional Advisory group (PAG), for SpR members, and a second, for nurse members, will be launched shortly.
2 Working Parties are currently meeting, to advise Trustees on two specific topics, as part of the Implementation Plan:-
The Research Strategy Working Party, chaired by the Society's Honorary Secretary.
The Nurse Working Party to discuss how the Society might best support its nurse members, and the role of specialist nurses more generally, chaired by the Honorary Treasurer.
The joint BTS/GPIAG Committee, IMPRESS, exists to provide providers and commissioners of respiratory services with information about delivery of standards of respiratory care across the traditional secondary and primary care boundaries. The IMPRESS website is accessible via the links on the top menu and side menu bars.
Committee Membership
Information about current BTS Committees can be found here.
Useful Information for Committee Members
Declarations of Interest Form
Download a copy (Word format) here
Travel Expenses Claim Form
Download a copy here
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