Incoming BTS Committee Chairs 2022

Mrs Alison Armstrong – Chair of the Education and Training Committee

BTS is pleased to announce Mrs Alison Armstrong as the new Chair of the Education and Training Committee.

Having begun her nursing career in 1993, Alison is currently a Nurse Consultant, working at North East Assisted Ventilation Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Alison has a strong interest in supporting and delivering education, and has contributed in this space for many years. In 2015, She was involved in the development of the medical home ventilation competency-based curriculum for the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, which is now formerly adopted by the GMC. Subsequent to this, she helped to produce an educational framework for use with non-medical health care professionals working in the field of home mechanical ventilation.

Alison has held the position of co-chair of the BTS Nurse Specialist Advisory group for the last 4 years. She is also involved in other aspects of the Society’s work; having contributed to the Quality tool for acute NIV which was launched in 2018, and more recently she contributed to the clinical statement for managing patients with respiratory disease during airline travel. Additionally, Alison has authored and co-authored a number of other publications specific to her area of practice.

On taking up her new position, Alison said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as the first nurse delegate into the role of chair of the BTS Education and Training Committee, and the first non-medic in a chair role across any of the BTS core committees. 

I am passionate about the importance of education and the innovative ways that it can be delivered.

I am eager to continue to represent the entire MDT and promote multi-professional education, and also to consider ways of including the patient voice in developing educational programmes and resources for clinicians, which would ultimately promote better respiratory health for patients.”

Professor Adam Hill – Chair of the Standards of Care committee

BTS is pleased to announce Professor Adam Hill as the new Chair of the Standards of Care Committee.

Adam has contributed significantly to the work of BTS for nearly 20 years. Some of this work includes leading the UK National Bronchiectasis Audit (September 2011 onwards), authoring a range of guidelines and quality standards, organising the new Bronchiectasis short course (2023) and chairing the Bronchiectasis Quality Standards (2021).

Adam currently holds the following posts; Dean of Postgraduate Medicine- NHS Education for Scotland, Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Honorary Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Edinburgh. Well recognised in research, to date his work has led to 16,950 citations, and he is currently the world expert number 3 in bronchiectasis.

On taking up his new position, Adam said:

“I am excited taking on the new role of chair of the Standards of Care Committee. Clinical guidelines, Clinical statements and Quality Standards are key to improving patient care not only in the UK but also internationally.  I am honoured to take this role on and look forward continuing the excellent work from the previous Chair Simon Hart.”