The Society is managed by its Trustees, who are the officers and members of the Executive Committee. The President and President-elect are elected annually by the membership. The other officers serve for three years and nominations for these posts are sought from the membership. Current officers (March 2013) are:-
Chair of Executive Committee:- Dr Bernard Higgins
Honorary Secretary:- Dr David Baldwin
Honorary Treasurer:- Dr Robina Coker
President:- Professor Ashley Woodcock
President-elect:- Professor Ann Millar
Other members of the Executive Committee are the Chairs of the Society's Standing Committees, and up to three others, each serving a three-year term. The Executive Committee meets six times a year. Members are:-
Dr James Calvert, Chair, Professional and Organisational Standards Committee
Dr Caroline Elston, Chair, Workforce Committee
Roy Dudley-Southern, Chair, Public Liaison Committee
Dr Ian Forrest, Chair, Education and Training Committee
Dr Sam Janes, Chair, Science & Research Committee
Dr David Smith, Chair, Standards of Care Committee
Dr Mike Ward, co-Chair, IMPRESS
The Council gives advice and guidance to the Trustees, and meets twice a year. There are 18 elected members in addition to the members of the Executive Committee, each serving a term of three years. Six members retire annually, and there is an election to replace them. There are also several ex-officio members. These are the editors of Thorax; the Chair of the British Paediatric Respiratory Society; the Chairs of the BTS Specialist Trainees' and Nurses' Advisory Groups; and the UK National Delegate of the European Respiratory Society. Each elected member of Council serves on one of the Society's Standing Committees.
A copy of the Society's constitution may be downloaded here.
In 2007/8 the Society reviewed and revised the remits of its Standing Committees and related infrastructure. The main aim of the re-structuring was to make sure that the Committees and associated Advisory Groups and communications systems were effectively aligned to enable the Society to meet its strategic objectives.
Six main Committees emerged from the review process:-
The Standards of Care Committee retains responsiblity for Guideline development on specific diseases, procedures and processes of care. It has developed robust mechanisms and systems for producing Guidelines; involving relevant stakeholder organisations and patients/carers; and disseminating key messages.
The Science and Research Committee plans and organises the Society's annual Winter Meeting. It is developing a role in identifying gaps in knowledge and advising on priority areas for research and is tasked with making these known to the UK Respiratory Research Collaborative and the national lead for the comprehensive local Research Networks.
The Professional & Organisational Standards Committee emerged from this review process. It is charged with monitoring individuals and systems against current standards. For individuals, this will involve revalidation (re-certification) and governance issues, to ensure that the specialty content is properly represented. In relation to organisational standards and performance, the Committee is developing a programme of benchmarking and national audit activity.
The Education and Training Committee exists to help individuals to reach these required standards. The Committee continues to organise the Society's programme of educational activities, (short courses and the BTS Summer Meeting and e-learning). 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, the Specilaist certificate Examination (SCE) and to dissemination of key messages in the Society's (and other relevant) Guidelines.
The Workforce Committee exists to ensure that there are sufficient individuals available to deliver care to agreed standards. Traditionally this 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 is alsoresponsible for taking forward the Society's work in relation to promotion and support of Less Than Full Time Training and Working.
The Public Liaison Committee (PLC) was established in 2009 to ensure that the Society benefits from access to informed and involved public involvement in the planning and execution of its work.
Specialist & Professional Advisory Groups
Underpinning the main Committee infrastructure 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) hold an annual open meeting for discussing with the broader membership of the Society developments in the specialism concerned (usually at the Society's Winter Meeting) and may also host a discussion forum for interested members. SAGs are 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 and research opportunities. Information on the Society's SAGs can be found here. The Society also benefits from the work of its Specialist Trainee Advisory Group and its Nurse Advisory Group.
The joint BTS/PCRS-UK Committee, IMPRESS, exists to provide providers and commissioners of respiratory services with information about integrated delivery of respiratory care across the traditional secondary and primary care boundaries.
The Society is very grateful to all of its members who volunteer to assist in Committees, Guideline groups, Specialist Advisory Groups and a range of consultations and activities. In 2010 around 12% of UK based members were working on current BTS activities - a sign of a vibrant and engaged membership.