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In 1971 the College established a Family Planning Sub-committee to discuss proposals for the RCOG, together with the Royal College of General Practitioners, to issue a joint certificate of training in family planning based on assessment in family planning clinics. It was agreed that those doctors already recognised by the Family Planning Association (FPA) should be accepted under the new scheme, and that the FPA should be represented on the committee. The committee was superseded in 1972 by the RCOG/RCGP Committee on Contraception and Family Planning.

On 26 April 1973 it was decided that the committee should be renamed the Joint Committee on Contraception of the RCOG and RCGP, normally abbreviated as the Joint Committee on Contraception (JCC). The personnel of the committee remained unchanged, being dominated by representatives of the two eponymous royal colleges, with representatives from the FPA and the Society of Community Medicine. In December 1974 the RCOG agreed to take over the secretarial work for the JCC and office space was allotted for this purpose. In 1993 the JCC was superseded by the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care (FFPRHC).

Special working groups or ad hoc committees and sub-committees were set up at various times, usually by Council or the Finance and Executive Committee, to investigate and report on particular issues of concern to the College. Servicing the working groups and committees is currently the responsibility of the College's Administration Department.

The working group was set up in 1978 at the request of Sir Henry Yellowlees, Chief Medical Officer, in order to "advise on what guidance might be given to health authorities on the introduction into routine antenatal care of a service to detect neural tube defects". The group was chaired by the President of the Royal College of Physicians and the RCOG was represented by the College President. The final report was produced in July 1979.

The establishment of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service (NHS) was announced by the government in 1975. It was to consider the "best use and management of the financial and manpower resources of the NHS" (see the introduction to the minute book of the working party at M15M/1). The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) working party on evidence to the Royal Commission was set up on 16 June 1976, under the chairmanship of T L T Lewis, by the Finance and Executive Committee in order to submit evidence to the Commission on behalf of the College.

The working party was established by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Council following a request from the General Medical Council's Standards Committee for guidance on the clinical aspects of conducting intimate examinations with a view to establishing recognisable standards of good practice. The working party's terms of reference were:- 1:to review the draft guidance issued by the GMC; 2:to prepare guidance in relation to obstetrics and gynaecology; 3: to consider the implications of the guidance for future training and research in obstetrics and gynaecology; 4: to make recommendations to the Council within six months. A draft report was produced in 1997.

The RCOG working party and confidential enquiry into laparoscopy was formed under the chairmanship of G V P Chamberlain in order to conduct an investigation into the use of laparoscopy within the United Kingdom. The College was to be assisted by the DHSS, which agreed to handle all data processing and analysis, and by the Defence Societies, which were to help finance printing and postage (see first meeting, 10 June 1975, in minute book: Archives reference M21M/1 p. 1). Although the working party produced its final report in 1978, and no minutes appear to have survived after 1977, it continued to carry out its investigations until 1982.

The Institutional versus Domiciliary Midwifery Committee was established by the RCOG Council under the chairmanship of R C Thomas in 1951 to assess National Health Service obstetric services, to study trends in places of birth, and to define objectives for the next two decades. It changed its title to the Maternity' Services Committee later in 1951 and to the Obstetric Services Committee in 1954. It published its report in the same year; a revised version was published by the College in November 1956. The committee does not appear to have met after 1954. According to a note in T5, p. 17, this committee continued the work of an earlier RCOG committee, the Maternity Committee, 1929-1939.

This committee was set up by Council in January 1961 under the chairmanship of H R MacLennan. Its report, Recommendations on the Principles and Organisation of General Practitioner Maternity Units and their relation to specialist Maternity Units, was published in January 1962.

This committee was first convened in May 1972 under the chairmanship of Norman Jeffcoate PRCOG. Its terms of reference were "to consider the medical staffing at all levels in hospital departments of obstetrics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom in relation to training, service and career structure" (minute book, meeting 23 June 1972: Archives reference M29M/1). The committee was asked also to bear in mind the staffing situation that existed at the time, registrar "freeze" and the limited opportunities for trainees to secure promotion to senior registrar and consultant status. Seven meetings were held with Sir Norman Jeffcoate and later Sir Stanley Clayton in the chair. The Medical Officer of the Department of Health, Dr W J Modle, joined the committee on one occasion. The committee reported to Council in 1973.

The working party met throughout 1984 and 1985 and their report was published in May 1987. The required information was collected through the use of questionnaires, letters and verbal evidence. The Chairman was Mrs W J A Francis FRCOG.

The College's Committee on Human Fertility was established in 1944 to assist the Biological and Medical Committee of the Royal Commission on Population in clinical investigations of sterility. It held meetings from May 1944 to March 1945. The questionnaire sub-committee met from March 1945 to March 1949; it supervised an enquiry (by questionnaire) into infertility which was conducted by E Lewis-Faning. Lewis-Faning's report was published in typescript as follows: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Report on an enquiry into family limitation and its influence on human fertility during the past fifty years.

In August 1994 two articles based on unsubstantiated research were published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Due to the resulting furore the College President, who was also the Journal editor, felt it necessary to resign from both positions, despite being exonerated from collusion in the deception. This committee was set up as an independent body by Council in November 1994 and produced its report in June 1995. The College Secretary's Office provided the secretariat for the enquiry.

The Council of the RCOG convened the sub-committee under the chairmanship of Mr V Lack in March 1955 at the request of the General Medical Council in December 1954. The committee's remit was to comment on the General Medical Council Recommendations Committee as to the medical curriculum of 1947. The sub-committee concluded: 1) The purpose of the medical curriculum should be to train General Practitioners. 2) The medical curriculum should be shortened. 3) No reduction of time in the training of Midwifery should be allowed.

The working party was set up by Council on the recommendation of the RCOG's Examination Committee in 1991 under the chairmanship of Professor W Dunlop. Its terms of reference were "to consider the need for change in the current system of assessment leading to the award of MRCOG; to define the educational objectives upon which assessment should be based, and to suggest revision of the current system of assessment and to make recommendations on the implementation of this revision". It reported to Council in 1991.

The working party was established by the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in March 1992 with the following remit: "to consider all matters relating to training, with particular reference to the length of training and structured training programmes" (report, p.3 Ref: M52).

The Court of Patrons was inaugurated following the decision of Council on 30 November 1982, with HM Elizabeth the Queen Mother presiding as Patron of the College. Members of the Court were to be 'composed of persons of distinction who have an interest in and concern for the College' (Council minutes, 28 November 1981). The Court was comprised of up to thirty members and the first members were admitted at a Fellows Admission Ceremony on 2 June 1982. Honorary officers were ex-officio members. Membership included seventeen lay members and eight medical members, comprising five former presidents and three former vice-presidents of the College. Members of the Court were appointed by Council. The Court was intended to recognise and honour those who had contributed to securing the fortunes and future of the College, financially or in another capacity.

It was initially intended the Court would meet annually followed by a dinner, meetings however became infrequent and the Court only met a few times. A possible reason for this was that there was never a clear statement of the Court's aims and objectives. This led to its role and remit being discussed and investigated on a number of occasions between 1993-1996. As the Court had no specfic place in the College constitution The Court was serviced variously by the President's Office and the College Secretary's Office.

Up until 2005 the College Secretary's Office was responsible for staff management matters, when a separate Personnel Department was formed.

Until 1930 the College did not have a permanent Secretary, but in December 1930 the President recommended that the private secretary of Sir William Fletcher Shaw, Miss W E Mallon be appointed as permanent Secretary to the College. Initially the function of the Secretary was purely administrative, as the College grew in size the Secretary became the senior manager of the College, responsible for general management of the College and all its departments in direct liaison with the College Officers, Council and committee chairmen. As the College Secretary's responsibilities expanded, it became necessary to pass certain functions to other departments or officers (for example, in the 1980's responsibility for overseas affairs was passed to the Vice President). In 1999 a Personnel Officer was appointed, under the overall control of the College Secretary. The role involves:

Attendance of Council meetings, the Finance and Executive Committee and Council elections.
Control of special funds.
Operational and management responsibility for major projects.
Overseeing the production of educational resources for training and continuing professional development.
Providing general education development support and advice in a number of forums.
In 2005 the post was renamed as the Chief Executive/Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

The decision-making work of the College is carried out through a Committee system, with administrative support from the various internal departments. The committees below are or were standing committees of the College established to make policy in relation to particular functions and interests of the College.

The Publications Panel was set up in 1978 to consider the format, typesetting, binding and print runs of College scientific publications (ref: RCOG/B16/1, internal memo 22/1/85). It reported to the Finance and Executive Committee. In February 1985 the Panel was reformed to 'meet only when necessary to discuss printers quotations, publishers proposals, print quantities and handling charges to Fellows and Members' (ref: RCOG/B16/1, agenda Feb 1985). The Panel was chaired by the Honorary Treasurer.

In 1987 the Joint Planning Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Department of Health invited a submission from the RCOG on training grade numbers. Ad hoc meetings were held to formulate a response. This was followed by an occasional Manpower Working Party which met from 1988 to advise Council on these issues. The Working Party began to undertake annual censuses to identify numbers in training, career prospects and related areas of concern and also to hold annual meetings to update members of the profession in manpower issues and to allow sharing of views between the College, the Department of Health, purchasers and providers of health care. Special surveys and studies on specific issues were also undertaken. By 1990 the Working Party had gradually evolved into full committee but did not adopt a formal constitution and terms of reference until 1992, when it was decided that its role was 'to advise Council on all matters relating to manpower in obstetrics and gynaecology' and 'to keep Council informed of the census results and manpower and staffing trends which are identified.' In 1997 it was decided that the term 'manpower' was outdated and the committee was renamed the Medical Workforce Advisory Committee (MWAC).

This Committee was established to act as a channel of communication between trainees and the RCOG and as a forum for discussion of issues relevant to training in obstetrics and gynaecology. The idea for the committee originally arose in the early 1990s in response to health service reform, the reduction of working hours and changing working practices of junior doctors, the Calman reforms in medical education, and concerns about the retention and recruitment of trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology. It was to be a constituted as a democratically-elected standing committee of the RCOG, members being elected by other trainees, and would liaise with the College about examinations, accreditation and training issues in the light of the current health service reforms. This national committee was to be accompanied by regional committees that would liaise with Regional College Advisers, Postgraduate Deans and District Tutors about local matters. An Interim Trainees Committee was established in 1993, with Dr Susan Bewley as Chair. Elections were held early in 1994 and the National Trainees Committee proper held its first meeting in July 1994. In 1998 it became known as the Trainees Committee. In addition to giving them a voice within the RCOG, the committee organised a series of surveys of trainees, to ascertain their views on training in obstetrics and gynaecology, working patterns, remuneration and the effect of health service reforms.

The Education Board was established in November 1992 on the recommendation of the Futures Working Party of the College. Its remit was 'to act as a forum to disseminate information and to act as required on particular items of educational interest in its widest sense' (Education Board: minutes of preliminary meeting, 20 Nov 1992, ref: B24M/1 p. 1). It took reports from the relevant standing committees and discussed those matters arising from their activities that would not normally have received an airing at Council. These included the Examinations, Higher Training, Hospital Recognition, Subspecialty, Continuing Professional Development, Manpower, and Meetings Committees. In 2000, the RCOG put in place a new board structure in order to free-up Council's time to concentrate on strategic and specialty wide issues. The Education Board became one of three boards (along with Standards and Services) that were given executive and decision-making authority and were able to ratify the decisions of reporting committees and groups. They were responsible directly to Council and met quarterly. The remit of the Education Board became: to facilitate the ongoing development of valid, fair and appropriate College examination processes; to promote and facilitate the development of the continuing professional development programme; to facilitate the initiation and development of the distance learning programme and related education initiatives; and to co-ordinate and facilitate the development of education in its widest sense (Finance and Executive Committee: minutes, 4 May 2000, ref: A3/30/4). At this date it had the following reporting committees: Examinations, Continuing Professional Development, Standing Joint RCOG/RCR, Meetings, CAL [Computer Assisted Learning] Editorial Board. In 2002, in order to forge closer ties between examinations and training, a revised Board structure was established and the reporting of the three training committees (Specialist Training, Subspecialty, Trainees) was diverted from the Standards Board to the Education Board. By 2008, the Education Board's remit was as follows: to co-ordinate postgraduate training, assessment and testing of training and accreditation of place of training; to facilitate the continuing development of valid, fair and appropriate College examination processes; to facilitate the initiation and development of distance learning programmes; to co-ordinate and facilitate the development of specialist education, training and assessment in the widest sense, in accordance with the College curricula.

In 2000, the RCOG put in place a new board structure to free-up Council's time to concentrate on strategic and specialty wide issues. The three boards (Standards, Services and Education) were given executive and decision-making authority and were able to ratify the decisions of reporting committees and groups. They were be responsible to Council and met quarterly. The Services Board was set up to develop and co-ordinate services to Fellows and Members, Trainees, members of the public, the media and RCOG internal departments. Its original terms of reference were to co-ordinate and facilitate publishing activities, including responsibility for editorial production, management, marketing and distribution services. Its remit was also to co-ordinate the production of information to Fellows and Members, the public and the media; whether paper, electronic or verbal/oral. The Board was intended to have executive and decision-making authority in addition to ratifying decisions by reporting committees. It was also expected to report matters of political, financial importance and/or which had personnel implications, to the Finance and Executive Group (FEG). It was also, ultimately, answerable to Council. Its original membership consisted of the Chairman (Honorary Officer), the Chairmen of the Publications Management Committee, the Information Technology Committee, the Information Services Committee and the Website Working Group, the Public Relations Officer, a Fellows and Members representative each from Council, the Head of the Services Division and any other 'relevant managerial staff' according to agenda items, i.e. they were to attend on an ad hoc basis. A later remit was agreed or dated 23rd January 2002, but it is apparent that there were amendments made to the membership in the early stages of its existence. In 2003 the Services Board was disbanded because Council felt that there was duplication of reporting. Responsibility for awards, overseas activities, fellowship selection, publications management and press were passed to the Finance and Executive Group. A new Services Committee was established on 23rd May 2003, reporting to Finance and Executive. It incorporated the remits from the old Services Board, House Committee and Information Services Committee and was responsible for the activities of Administration, Facilities, Information Services, Information Technology, Membership Services and Premises. However, in 2005 Council ratified Finance and Executive's decision for the Services Committee to revert to its former title and executive status as the Services Board. So despite some to-and-froing, by 2008 the Services Board's remit was essentially little changed from that of its establishment in 2000. The Board was to develop and co-ordinate services for Fellows, Members, Trainees, Associates and Affiliates, and to assist in supporting College strategy by developing new services and regularly reviewing the provision of current services provided by the College departments of Administration, Facilities, Information Services, Information Technology, Premises, Communications and External Affairs, and Publications. It retained its status as an executive authority and had the power to ratify the decisions of the following groups and committees that report to it: Public Affairs Committee, Publications Committee, Services Group, Website Group, Cross-Departmental Marketing and Focus Group, and Red Eventful Cuisine/RCOG Group.

In order to assist the work of the Clinical Standards Department and the Standards Board in planning the development of clinical standards, clinical directors of obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK were invited to a meeting in October 2000 to consider the College's approach in this area; to enable liaison with clinical directors and to define how the College's programme of work might help them. From this date regular bi-annual meetings were held 'to identify issues of importance to those at the coal-face and to exchange experiences and views.'

The Hospital Recognition Committee (HRC) was first established in 1944 as a sub-committee of the Examination Committee. It became a full standing committee in 1947. From 1935 the inspection and recognition of hospitals had been a regular part of the Examination Committee's work. The impetus behind the establishment of the Hospital Recognition Sub-committee in 1944 was provided by the Interdepartmental Committee on Medical Schools (Goodenough Committee). The Hospital Recognition Sub-committee was established to draw up a list of hospitals which could be recognised for training to consultant status. The Sub-committee reported in January 1945. Its earliest extant minutes (numbered K1) date from September 1946, and show that the Sub-committee was performing the functions previously routinely performed by the Examination Committee in administering the recognition of hospital posts. The first meeting of the HRC as a full standing committee took place on 19 March 1947 (K2). In the 1950s and 1960s its membership was co-extensive with that of the Examination Committee. In 1973, however, Council undertook a review of the College's committees and decided to streamline the Examination Committee, making it into a small executive committee. The existing composition and functions of the HRC were maintained. In 1998 the HRC took over the functions of the Higher Training Committee (HTC) (which had been dissolved) relating to recognition of Specialist Registrar hospital posts. The HRC's current remit is: to undertake regular assessment and, where appropriate, recognise as satisfactory, training in obstetrics and gynaecology in defined posts, against defined standards, for hospitals who request such recognition, both in the UK and overseas; to make recommendations for the improvement of training and monitor the implementation of such recommendations. The HRC is serviced by the College's Postgraduate Training Department.

The establishment featured in the early vision for the College. In April 1933, A E Giles (1864-1936) was elected as the first Honorary Librarian and a Library Committee was formed. Giles became Resident Librarian in 1937. After the Second World War this post was discontinued, and in 1946 W J Bishop (1903- 1961) became part-time librarian (later Consultant Librarian). Hitherto the collection had been primarily historical, but when the College moved to new purpose-built premises in 1960, the Library was an important element in the design of the new building and it extended its activities to cover current literature in the specialty. Grant funding from the Wellcome Trust enabled major developments in the 1960s and in 1970 the Library premises were further extended. Meanwhile, the rare book collections continued to grow. Notable donors included Roy Samuel Dobbin (1873-1939), Sir Eardley Holland (1879-1967), and Miles Phillips (1875-1965). In 2000, the Library Committee changed its name to become the Information Services Committee in order to reflect the developing activities of the Library in this area. In 2001 it assumed additional responsibilities with regard to Information Technology and the College website from the previous Information Technology Committee and Website Working Group. In the same year, the Library became the major constituent, along with the College Archives, of a new department, the Information Services Department. The Information Services Committee met for the last time in March 2003. The Information Services Department continued to function, reporting to Services Board, and in 2005 acquired responsibility for the College web-site.

Committees and Councils of the RCOG were set up internationally in various countries. The earliest were Reference Committees, which were set up and appointed to advise Council on local matters, such as the recognition of training posts and the training programmes of individual trainees, and to encourage local scientific meetings and social gatherings of Fellows and Members. The first reference committee was set up in Canada in 1932, closely followed by one in India and subsequently in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Gradually Regional Councils replaced Reference Committees in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Australia and New Zealand replaced their Councils with their own Royal Colleges of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1980 and 1982 respectively. Representative Committees were set up as the corporate body of College membership in a particular country or region and nominated and elected by the Fellows of that country or region. Functions were to bring together the collective advice of Fellows and Members and to undertake tasks on the College's behalf which were also in the interests of the country. In the 1980's the remaining Regional Councils were replaced by Representative Committees. The Dominions Committee was founded as a sub-committee of the RCOG in 1945 and became a full committee in 1952. It comprised representatives from the dominions (Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India) and met in London. The meetings were consequently infrequent and the Committee was disbanded in 1958. The Overseas Policy Committee based in England, met from 1960 to 1962 when it became known as the Overseas Committee. Its terms of reference were: to consider development and change in countries overseas, particularly within the Commonwealth, in so far as they affect the aims and objectives of the College; to consider with the regional councils and reference committees means of fostering a close relationship between Fellows and Members abroad; to help with the placing of recommended postgraduates in recognised training posts in England and abroad; to be concerned with arrangements for the reception, both professional and social, of visitors from overseas. By 1967 the Overseas Committee had been superseded by the appointment of an Adviser to Overseas Candidates and after 1967 there is no record of the Committee meeting again.

The Representative Committee was formed in 1943 at the invitation of the Minister for Health who asked the British Medical Association (BMA), in collaboration with the royal colleges, to form a committee representative of all branches of the medical profession to discuss with him the problems involved in establishing a comprehensive national health service. The following bodies were represented on the committee: Medical Planning Committee; BMA; Royal College of Surgeons of England; Royal College of Physicians; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow; Society of Apothecaries; Society of Medical Officers of Health; Medical Women's Federation; Provincial Teaching Hospitals' Staffs' Association. The purpose of the committee was to explore the medical problems raised by the Beveridge Report and to promote the views of the majority of the medical professions. In 1944 the Representative Committee was restyled as the National Health Service Negotiating Committee; it was disbanded in December 1948 following the establishment of a Joint Committee of the Royal Colleges, the Royal Scottish Corporations and the Consultants and Specialists Committee (established by the BMA), which continued to represent consultants and specialists in negotiation with the Government in matters arising from the National Health Service Acts.

The first meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee on Obstetric Anaesthesia and Analgesia was held on 16 February 1982. The Committee was comprised of three representatives of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and three representatives of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, to 'consider and make recommendations on matters of common interest to its parent bodies' (minutes, ref: C20/5). It agreed on the following areas of common interest in teaching: anaesthesia for operative deliveries, pain relief in labour, obstetric intensive care and resuscitation of the newborn. In 1987 a Working Party on Resuscitation of the Newborn was formed by the Committee and included representatives from the Royal Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Anaesthetists, and Midwives, and from the British Paediatric Association. Its aim was to produce two instruction manuals covering basic resuscitation of the newborn and the special skills needed for advanced resuscitation. From 1995 the Standing Advisory Committee became known as the Standing Joint Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, following a review of the functions the committee performed. Its new terms of reference became: to discuss and advise on matters of mutual interest and concern in both obstetric and gynaecological anaesthesia, and to report routinely on discussions by submission of minutes to Councils. The Chair reported to the Finance and Executive Committee, then later to the Standards Board; traditionally the committee met twice a year.

Advisory appointments committees were set up by regional hospital boards in 1955 to select consultants for appointment in hospitals around the country. Committee members were external assessors who came from a different area to where the appointment was being made. Method of selection of assessors was as follows: requests would be made to the relevant medical college for nominations for membership of committees, and those persons nominated approached directly by the President of the College.

The Joint Steering Group of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care on teenage pregnancy was set up in July 1993. Its terms of reference were in line with the definition in Section D of the government document "Health of the Nation"(1993):

1. To reduce the rate of conception amongst the under 16s by at least 50% by the year 2000.
   2. To reduce the number of unintended teenage pregnancies.
   3. To ensure the provision of effective family planning services for those people who wanted them. The first chairman was Stanley Simmons PRCOG, followed by David Bromham, chairman of the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care (FFPRHC). Members of the group also included representatives of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, the Department of Health, the Health Education Authority and the Brook Advisory service. On 24th August 1993 it established three working groups to consider: emergency contraception, its availability, access and promotion; the need and content of research and audit; all aspects of sex education and promotion in relation to teenagers and other related groups. In 1994 the second working group passed its research and findings to the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care who were establishing an audit unit, and ceased to investigate further. The Steering Group organised a consensus conference on emergency hormonal contraception in December 1994; a book was produced.

The Joint Committee of the Royal Medical Colleges, the Royal Scottish Corporations, and the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee of the British Medical Association was established in 1948 in order to provide a body which could speak for consultants, particularly in the impending negotiations with the government on matters arising out of the National Health Service Acts and the report of the Spens Committee on the Remuneration of Consultants and Specialists. In 1952 the Committee was renamed the Joint Consultants Committee and continued to provide a common voice on issues relating to hospital consultants.

This Working Party was a multidisciplinary group set up by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in 2000. It was also supported by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), amongst others. It acted as an independent multidisciplinary body that campaigned for improvements in maternity care. It was formed to raise awareness of the public health implications of the rising caesarean section rate; to highlight the health and social needs of women and their families; and to emphasise the contribution that women-centred maternity services might make to the promotion of public health. In 2001, the NCT, RCM and RCOG, commissioned by the Working Party, published a commissioning toolkit for Primary Care Trusts designed to help them to update themselves on current thinking in maternity care provision and to improve local maternity services. In 2006 a second edition of this report was produced.

The terms of reference of this Working Party, established in November 2005 as a joint Working Party between the College and the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (APOG), were as follows:

1. To consider ways of improving recruitment to obstetrics and gynaecology at undergraduate level
   2. To make specific recommendations to individual university departments of obstetrics and gynaecology and agree reasonable targets
   3. To arrange an annual meeting of academic departments in the UK to exchange ideas, identify areas of good practice and develop an agenda for the recruitment of medical students to the specialty
   4. To consider how RCOG prizes and awards can be developed to enhance recruitment
   5. To recommend a system for recognising excellence among clinical teachers of obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK and Irish Medical Schools

In February 2006 APOG, which had been in existence for over 25 years as an association of senior academics was disbanded and replaced by a new grouping, the Academic Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AAOG), open to clinical and relevant non-clinical academics of all grades, as well as to NHS consultants who had a strong interest in academic work. The Working Party continued its work and a final joint RCOG / AAOG report was published in December 2006.

The Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project operated via sections based at the Project's headquarters at Chelsea College, London, developing content and methods of presentation for teaching science subjects at various levels. Film loops were produced as teaching aids.

The development of the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project A-level Chemistry course was the responsibility of Mr E H Coulson. The trial schools originally numbered twelve and were selected to give a reasonable range of pupil ability, type of school and geographical distribution. In all, some 250 pupils were involved, taking the first A-level examination in the summer of 1968. Publications included the Teachers' Guide, suggesting lines of treatment for topics in the course; the Pupils' Guide to experimental investigations; and Data Sheets, for use in discussing problems and ideas arising from experimental work and to provide information needed in answering questions set for homework and in examinations. Other materials included Information for Pupils, providing material not present in other text books; and Specimen Problems to cover all aspects of work done, including a range of questions. Special Studies at Chemistry A-level involved the study by students of two courses chosen from Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry or Food Science, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Ion Exchange Processes and Natural and Synthetic Fibres.

The Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project (NFSTP) Chemistry O-level Project began in 1962, when a small team was established to prepare and publish materials for a five-year course. The organiser was Mr H F Halliwell, supported by members of the NFSTP headquarters team at Chelsea College, the consultative committee, and area leaders. In 1970 R B Ingle prepared and circulated a detailed questionnaire, sent to some 200 schools which entered pupils for the 1970 GCE examination, identifying areas of the course needing revision.

The Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project, set up in 1961, operated via subject-based sections, each run by an organiser and based at the Project's headquarters at Chelsea College, London, backed by a consultative committee and working party. The projects developed content and methods of presentation in science teaching at various levels.

Dulwich Hospital started life as the Champion Hill Infirmary of St Saviour's Union in 1886. In 1921 it became Southwark Hospital and in 1931, when London County Council took over the running of it, it became Dulwich Hospital. In 1948, when the National Health Service Act came into operation, the Hospital came under the administrative control of Camberwell Hospital Management Committee, which included St Giles and St Francis Hospitals. This Committee was under the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. In 1964, Dulwich Hospital joined King's College Hospital Group. Dulwich Hospital produced patient case notes in the course of its business.

Physician at Dulwich Hospital, from 1947.

Evelina Hospital, Southwark Bridge Road, London, was a voluntary hospital for children, founded in 1869. In 1948 it became part of the Guy's Hospital Group, and in 1974 Guy's Health District (Teaching). Evelina Hospital closed in 1975.

Born 1881; Associate of King's College London, 1907; Bachelor of Divinity, University of London, 1908; ordained deacon, 1907, and priest, 1908; Curate of St Mary, Rotherhithe, 1907-1913; Vice Principal of St Paul's Missionary College, and licentiate preacher, Diocese of Lincoln, 1913-1918; lecturer at St Paul's Missionary College, 1918-1920; Assistant Diocesan Inspector of Schools, Lincoln, 1918-1920; Chaplain to Te Aute College, Napier, New Zealand, 1921-1922; Vicar of Featherstone, 1922-1924; Vicar of Khandallah, 1924-1927; Vicar of Winthorpe, Lincolnshire, 1919-1920, and 1928-1937; died 1941.

Publications: The Longer Commentary of R. David Kimhi on the First Book of Psalms, I-X, XV-XVII, XIX, XXII, XXIV (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London; Macmillan Co, New York, 1919); The Synagogue Lectionary and the New Testament. A study of the three-year cycle of readings from the Law and the Prophets, as a contribution to New Testament chronology (S.P.C.K., London, 1939).

Born 1899; postgraduate student, Faculty of Natural Science, King's College London, 1924-1926.

Lived at Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire; proposed Fellow of the Royal Society by Thomas Isted, Sir Hans Sloane and William Sloane and elected, 1728; also Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries; died, 1768. Published 'An account of coal balls made at Liege', Philosophical Transactions, 41 (1739-1741), p 672.

The Tobacco Research Team was founded in 1969, as the third research team of the Addiction Research Unit (after alcohol and drugs) at the Institute of Psychiatry. The role of the Tobacco Research Team is to increase understanding of the psychological and pharmacological aspects of tobacco dependence and develop more effective interventions to reduce tobacco-related diseases. The team was led by Professor Michael Russell for many years.

Born 1937; MB ChB, Birmingham University Medical School, 1961; House Officer, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, 1961-1962; Senior House Officer, 1962-1963; Senior House Officer, Maudsley Hospital, 1963-1964; Registrar and Honorary Senior Registrar, Maudsley, 1965-1971; diploma in psychological medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, 1966; research worker, Institute of Psychiatry, 1967-1969; MD, Birmingham, 1969; lecturer, 1969-1971; Member, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1971; Senior Lecturer in forensic psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, 1971-1978; Consultant Psychiatrist, Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, 1971-2002; Director, Special Hospitals Research Unit, 1975-1978; advisor, House of Commons Select Committee on 'Violence in marriage', 1975; Head of Forensic Psychiatry section, Institute of Psychiatry, 1978-1987; Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1980.

Member of the Home Secretary's advisory board on restricted patients, 1982-1991; advisor, Prison Medical Service, 1986; World Health Organisation specialist advisor in forensic psychiatry to China, 1987; member, Royal Commission on criminal justice, 1991-1993; consultant, European Committee for Prevention of Torture, 1993-; Chairman, Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry, 2000-2004; member, Parole Board for England and Wales, 2006-.

Born, Scotland, 1940; BSc, Psychology, University of Aberdeen, 1962; diploma in clinical psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, 1963; Scientific Officer Medical Research Council, 1963-1964; Research Officer, Department of Child Development, University of London Institute of Education working on educational and medical survey of schoolchildren, Isle of Wight, under Professor Jack Tizard, 1965-1968; Lecturer in Child Development, Institute of Education, 1968-1969; Lecturer in Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, 1968-1969; appointed Honorary Principal Psychologist, Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, 1973; Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, 1973-1980; also Senior Lecturer in Child Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, 1974-1980; appointed Honorary Top Grade Psychologist, Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, 1979; Reader in Applied Child Psychology, 1980-1987; Professor of Applied Child Psychology, 1987-2005; Co-Director, School for Life project, Kiev, Ukraine, 1993-2002; Lead Clinician, National and Specialist division, Children's Directorate of South London and Maudsley NHS Trust; 1999-2003; Honorary Consultant in Clinical Psychology to the Army, 2000; Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2008-.

The Maudsley Hospital Medical School was opened in 1923 as. It was associated to the Maudsley Hospital, which was established in 1914 to treat the mentally ill. It was officially recognised by the University of London in [1933]. In 1948 it became a founder member of the newly formed British Postgraduate Medical Federation and changed its name to the Institute of Psychiatry. Maudsley Hospital amalgamated with the Bethlem Royal Hospital to form a joint teaching hospital in 1948. The Institute of Psychiatry became a school of King's College London in 1997.

The Finance and General Purposes Committee's functions were to advise on financial matters, scrutinise the strategic plan, and assume responsibility for risk assessment. When the Institute became a school of King's College London in Oct 1997 its functions were reduced, it was henceforth known as the Finance Committee.