Other than the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, produced by the Journal Department, production of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publications was initially the responsibility of a designated member of staff within the Administration Department. As the function expanded in importance with the establishment of a RCOG Press and a College Bookshop in 1993, a Publications Office was set up within the department; in 2000 this office became the Publications Department. The department is responsible for publishing RCOG Press volumes and serials.
The Council was established by the Articles of Association of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to manage the affairs of the College. The first Council was to consist of the signatories to the Memorandum of Association; the full Council was to comprise the President, Treasurer and Honorary Secretary of the College, plus 18 members made up of Fellows and Members. The first Council meeting was held on September 25 1929. Council's specific duties as set out in the 1927 Articles of Association were to be as follows: to elect Fellows and Members, to acquire property, to appoint and remove examiners, officers, clerks and agents, to nominate trustees, to give security by way of indemnity, to delegate power to committees, to make and repeal byelaws, to borrow money, to pay expenses, to act for the College, to publish literature.
In 1991 the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) instituted a series of joint meetings to consider maternity services in the light of changes in the organisation of the National Health Service, advances in clinical knowledge, and changes in the social framework in which general practitioners, midwives and obstetricians operated. The result was the production of a joint document on maternity care. A draft version of this document was also submitted to the House of Commons Health Committee Enquiry into Maternity Services.
In 1942 the Royal College of Physicians of London (RCP) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSENG) met together and agreed to ask the RCOG to co-operate to form a Standing Joint Committee of the three Royal Colleges. The Committee initially met each month to discuss matters of mutual interest, particularly the training of consultants; the three College presidents alternated as chairman.
The Ad Hoc Committee to Advise on Obstetric Analgesia and Anaesthesia including all Methods of Relief of Pain in Labour was established on 28 November 1970. It was formed on the recommendation of the Council of the RCOG, with representatives from the College, Central Midwives Board, Royal College of Midwives, Faculty of Anaesthetists, Association of Obstetric Anaesthetists and British Paediatric Association. It was chaired by Dame Josephine Barnes. The Committee made several reports on its investigations, including submissions to the Department of Health. It was disbanded in 1975.
In July 1968, RCOG Council produced a report on Hospital Obstetrics and the General Practitioner, following changes in the NHS. The report commented on General Practitioner Maternity Units and was drafted in discussion with the RCGP and the Univeristy of Liverpool. In 1972 a Joint Working Party between the RCOG and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) was convened to discuss the training requirements in obstetrics for the General Practitioner. At its first meeting on 13th July 1972, the party discussed an initial working paper produced by Sir Norman Jeffcoate (RCOG) and Dr P O'Brien (RCGP). The party met on six occasions and produced a report in March 1974 (a copy is in C7/1/2). In September 1980 a Joint Working Party on Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for General Practitioners was formed, following circulation of the two aforementioned reports. R M Feroze (FRCOG) acted as Chairman. The Working Party was to consider training in obstetrics and gynaecology for general practice, having regard to undergraduate education and training, and to make recommendations. The party met 14 times and produced a report in November 1981 (two copies are enclosed in C7/4/5). Ten years later in 1990, a second joint College working group was convened to review the recommendations of the 1980 working party and to determine the progress made in their implementation. They reported in February 1992, making 'Recommendations for Arrangements for General Practitioner Vocational Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In 1975 a Joint Research Committee of the RCOG and RCGP was established to undertake a 'Study into the Attitudes to Pregnancy'. It's main objectives were to compare the subsequent experience of women who require an induced abortion with that of other pregnant women, with special reference to reproductive efficiency, mental health and morbidity. The study was originally entitled 'Study of Sequelae of Induced and Spontaneous Abortion', but was renamed because of the need to include women as controls in the study who were not having abortions. The study arose because of a request from the Department of Health and Social Security in 1972 about the after effects of termination of pregnancy. The study was piloted three times, but was eventually postposed in 1978.
A congress to discuss obstetrics and gynaecology was held in London in 1920; unfortunately no record has survived of its terms of reference or proceedings. The first official British Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BCOG) was held at Birmingham in 1921 (see note on p. 4 of Central Congress Committee minute book, ref: E6M/1), but records of proceedings do not begin until 1923. The congresses were organised by Congress secretaries of local obstetrical societies; an Executive was appointed at the 1923 Edinburgh Congress, with the power to appoint a Treasurer (see correspondence of William Blair Bell, 1923, concerning British congresses in S10/59). From 1923 to 1965 British congresses were organised by local committees under the aegis of a Central Congress Committee, which was composed of representatives of different British and Irish obstetrical and gynaecological societies. The central committee was disbanded in 1965, and replaced by a new Congress Committee of the RCOG. The different societies continued to send representatives to serve on the new committee. In 1968 the Congress Committee was renamed the Scientific Programme and Central Congress Committee, and became responsible for the College's expanded programme of scientific meetings. In 1973 responsibility for scientific meetings passed to the Postgraduate Committee and Scientific Programme was dropped from its title. In 1976 the Central Congress Committee discussed the frequency of its meetings and recommended greater local influence; it restricted future meetings to the year of each Congress. By the 1980s the local obstetrical and gynaecological societies were responsible for running the annual Congress. The RCOG held a central Congress fund to enable organisers to plan ahead and any profits of the Congress were returned to the central fund. The President of the RCOG was also President of the Congress but otherwise the College had little input into the organisation of the Congress. In 1984 a new College Congress Committee was established to: allow the College to have a greater input to the scientific and social content; decide future venues; appoint the organising committee and advise on financial arrangements; liaise with College arrangements for other scientific meetings during the year of the Congress; arrange courses near the Congress for overseas delegates. However, it's existence was short-lived, on 22 July 1989 the RCOG Council disbanded the Congress Committee, and agreed that its responsibilities should pass to the Finance and Executive Committee (with one exception: the Postgraduate Committee became responsible for arranging educational courses at the time of the Congress).
In January 2002 a new Congress Committee was re-established, reporting to the Education Board. Its remit was:
- To be responsible for the scientific and social programme of the annual Congress
- To consider the inclusion of College eponymous lectures and of specilist societies in programme selection
- To decide on future venues for Congresses
- To monitor the performance of the Professional Congress Organiser
- To monitor the budget, income and expenditure for the Congress
A Scientific Programme Sub-Group was established at the first meeting to report to Congress Committee with its recommendations. 2007 marked the 30th British Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which was held in London. It is notable that in the new millennium, a major feature of the 'British' congress is collaboration with specialist societies and International Colleges which include America, Australia, Canada, South Africa and India, and others. Internally, organisation of congresses was always overseen by the Deputy College Secretary, later known as the Head of Corporate Affairs. From 1974-2002, Ms Caroline Roney served as Congress Organising Secretary/Congress Organiser.
The College formally announces matters of interest to media 'consumers' in press statements. Initially these were issued in paper form, from 2006 they have been issued electronically on the College website.
Lists of Fellows and Members were kept from the founding of the College in 1929; the Annual Report was also produced from that date. Production of the Register of Fellows and Members, the Annual Report and programmes of admission ceremonies is currently the responsibility of the Deputy College Secretary's Office.
This inquiry was set up by a committee of the Joint Council of Midwifery in 1936, with the College President, Sir Ewen Maclean, as the College's representative. In 1937 an interim report, including comments from the constituent bodies with representatives on the Midwifery committee, was forwarded to the Inter-departmental Committee on Abortion which had been set up by the Ministry of Health.
In November 1994 the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) set up a working party under the chairmanship of the Senior Vice President/Overseas Officer to examine the international affairs of the College and to make recommendations. The working party was particularly concerned with training for overseas postgraduates. The resulting report was circulated to all College members world wide.
The working party was set up by the College President in 1984 to "look into ways of improving the management of parents who had had a stillbirth or neonatal death" (Guidance notes in the minute book of the working party; see M16M/1). This body was also known as the working party on the management of perinatal deaths. Its Chairman was R D Atlay FRCOG.
At a meeting of the Finance and Executive Committee of the RCOG in November 1962 proposals were put forward for a survey "to ascertain facts appertaining to the discharge of normal maternity cases from hospital on the seventh day and to compare the findings with a control group discharged on the seventh day". The College hoped that the Ministry of Health would organise the survey, which would require the co-operation of the Central Midwives Board finance, Royal College of Midwives, the Association of Paediatricians and local health authorities. At a meeting of Council in January 1965 (A.249) it was noted the College had collected information concerning `early discharge' from some twenty or thirty hospitals in a pilot scheme. This information had been sent to the Ministry of Health for analysis with a view to launching a full-scale enquiry.
This working party was set up in October 1982 under the chairmanship of J D O Loudon to consider the role of medical gynaecology and the training of medical gynaecologists. It carried out its investigations by the circulation of a questionnaire and produced its report to Council in 1984.
This sub-committee was established by Council, under the chairmanship of J Malvern, in November 1980. Its terms of reference were "to enquire into all matters relating to manpower in training and career posts in obstetrics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and to advise the Council on policies with regard to numbers and distribution of training posts" (1983 report, p. 5 in M32/1). In 1982 the committee presented a preliminary report to Council defining the current state of manpower in the British Isles; a second, published report was produced in 1983. This committee may be seen as a precursor to the RCOG's Manpower (later Medical Workforce) Advisory Committee, which was established in 1988.
The working party was established in 1979 under the chairmanship of M C Macnaughton. Its terms of reference were "to consider the provision and standards of antenatal and intrapartum obstetrics services, and to make recommendations for possible improvements in necessary standards in future". This working party is an extension of an earlier RCOG/BPA Standing Joint Committee that published its report in 1978, Recommendations for the improvement of infant care during the perinatal period in the United Kingdom. However it was felt that the antenatal and intrapartum period needed to be covered; hence the 1979 working party.
The Nurtrition Committee was appointed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Council in October 1944, following a request to the Nutrition Society from Lord Woolton for advice on certain aspects of the diets of pregnant women and the effect of diet on the fetus. Sir Joseph Barcroft felt that the College was the body to make authoritative statements on the issue, and the Committee was set up to make a comprehensive investigation. Its terms of reference were to correlate and gain information with regard to the effect of nutrition on the health of pregnant women and their offspring.
In 1966 the Ministry of Health asked the RCOG for its views on a report on ambulance training and equipment produced by the Ministry and the Scottish Home and Health Department.
The working party was set up by the RCOG Finance and Executive Committee in 1965. Its terms of reference were as follows: "to consider the Platt Report `A reform of Nursing Education' and prepare a memorandum for submission to the Minister with particular reference to the effects of the implementation of this Report on the status and future training of midwives" (reference: RCOG memorandum in M4/1). Humphrey Arthure, formerly Honorary Secretary of the College (1947-1955), was the chairman of the working party.
The working party was instituted by the Council of the RCOG in 1989 to review the education and services related to contraception in view of the continuing high rate of unplanned pregnancy. It reported in September 1991.
The hospital visiting working party was set up in January 1993 by Council under the chairmanship of the Honorary Secretary, Professor W Dunlop FRCOG. Its terms of reference were as follows: 1) to examine the implications of the rotation of registrars upon recognition of training posts; 2) to advise upon the abolition of the distinction between SHO training posts for DRCOG and MRCOG; 3) to assess the purpose of hospital visiting following the introduction of structured training; 4) to suggest appropriate revision of the current system of hospital visiting; 5) to report to Council via the Finance and executive Committee within three months (see terms of reference of the report, archives ref: M41/1).
Established by the Council of the RCOG in 1988, the working party's terms of reference were to review current postgraduate activities of the College, post general accreditation and to consider the need, feasibility and the format of assessment of the individual's maintenance of skills.
The PROLOG working party was set up as a result of a questionnaire sent to UK Fellows and Members on the role of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in continuing postgraduate education. The main purpose of the exercise was to keep Fellows and Members up to date with progress in the speciality. It was decided to adopt the name of LOGIC (Learning in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for In-Service Clinicians) as a title for the scheme.
The RCOG undertook a survey of obstetric flying squads in 1980 in order to discover what care was provided for obstetric emergencies arising in the community where pre-admission examination or treatment has been considered advisable.
The working party was set up by order of the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in March 1990. It met once and produced a paper on guidelines for private practice which was published in November.
In January 1993 a meeting was held to prepare an information document for presentation to the most relevant speciality committee of the Department of Health's London Implementation Group following government acceptance of the recommendations of the Tomlinson Report on the future of London's health services. A submission was presented in July 1993.
Biographical note: John Harold Peel (b. 1904) KCVO, MA, BM BCh(Oxon), FRCP, FRCS, Hon FRCOG, Hon DSc(Birm), Hon FRCS(C.), Hon FCOG(SA), Hon FACS, Hon FACOG, Hon NMSA, Hon DM(Soton), Hon SCh(Newcastle) served as the College's Honorary Treasurer from 1959-1966 and as President from 1966-1969. He was the author of The Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1929-1969 (Whitefriars Press Ltd, 1976). He was elevated to the honorary fellowship of the College in 1989. Administrative history: the survey was conducted by Sir John Peel, PRCOG, in 1967. It was divided into three parts: 1: A survey of the reports from 22 teaching hospitals in Great Britain and Ireland covering the years 1949, 1954, 1959 and 1964; 2: a more detailed survey of caesarean sections preformed over the same years at King's College Hospital; 3: a report from 13 of the 22 hospitals on vaginal deliveries after previous caesarean section. Sir John presented his findings at the 18th British Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cambridge in July 1968. The final report is not extant and its whereabouts are unknown at this time.
The working party was established in 1995, following discussions with the Department of Health, with the following terms of reference: 1) 'To identify current trends in the routine use of ultrasound for screening in obstetrics; 2) to consider existing literature on routine ultrasound screening for fetal abnormalities with respect to its safety, accuracy, costs and psychological effects; 3) on the basis of the above, to reach recommendations concerning best practice, areas of continuing controversy, within the areas of controversy, those which might be amenable to research'. (Ref: Terms of reference in M55/1). The working party, under the chairmanship of Professor M J Whittle FRCOG, produced a consultation document in March 1997, which was widely circulated for comment. The final report of the working party was produced in October 1997. In 1998 the working party was reconvened as a supplementary working group to establish a minimum standard for screening; it produced its report in July 2000.
The first College Archivist was appointed in 1985 at the instigation of the College Librarian and the Wellcome Institute to organise and list the archives of the College and deposits of private papers. The department is also responsible for records management and making recommendations on conservation needs; from 2008 it became involved in the electronic records management of the College. The College Archives originally came under the governance of the College Secretary's Office; in 2001 the Archives became part of a new Information Services department.
Declaration forms are signed by Members on admittance to the College. The declaration was instituted by William Blair Bell in 1929 as a formal acceptance to subscribe to the regulations of the College and lawful practice in obstetrics and gynaecology. Initially Members were notified by post, later they were required to sign their acceptance in a book at the admission ceremony. From the 1970's members were required to sign a form. The forms have been the responsibility of various College departments, including the Administration Department and the defunct Central Services Department; current responsibility sits with the Membership Services Department.
The committee was first established in June 1976 as the Joint Staff Committee, and later renamed the Staff Committee. Its aims and objectives were to:
1) Act as a liaison body between staff, management and the officers of the RCOG and affiliated organisations
2) Provide a forum for staff to express concerns or give recommendations
3) Participate in the decision making process concerning employment, working practices and general welfare of staff
4) Advise on the content of procedures, personnel matters and employment related policies
5) Act as a consultative body for health and safety issues in the College as required by the appropriate legislation
6) To organise social activities for staff
The Committee consisted of departmental representatives nominated by election, one head of department representative, one union representative member, a representative from senior management and the Honorary Secretary as the ex-officio member. Staff Committee is elected to take office every other year, with representatives elected for two years. The Committee meets four times a year to discuss workforce matters such as disciplinary policy, diversity and equal opportunities, as well as more practical issues relating to the working environment at the College (such as catering and facilities).
The first 'Candidates' Newsletter' was produced in 1993; in December 1996 it was renamed the 'Trainees Newsletter'. Production of the Newsletter was suspended in 1999.
The senior manager for the College was traditionally the College Secretary, with further responsibility for College administration vested in the Deputy College Secretary. The College Secretary managed the College departments in liaison with the College Officers, Council and committee chairmen. In 2005 the post of College Secretary was renamed the Chief Executive Officer.
Traditionally senior management meetings occured between the College Secretary, the Deputy College Secretary and the primary Heads of Departments. This forum was responsible for approving any changes to the departmental structure of the College, revising the reporting structure and discussing the general management of the College. In 2003 the Senior Management Team (SMT) was disbanded as it was decided the Heads of Departments (HoDs) were the senior mangers of the College. However, by July 2005 the College had grown significantly in size, with over eighteen different departments, making it difficult to obtain quick management decisions. A new management structure was introduced dividing the College into four primary divisions or directorates: Services, Administration, Education and Standards. Each divisional director, together with the Chief Executive Officer and the Heads of Personnel and Finance formed the new Senior Management Team. The divisional Directors were to cascade management decisions down through regular meetings with the Heads of Department in their division: these meetings continue to the present day.
The Office of Honorary Treasurer is elected to Council by Fellows and Members, the term of office is a maximum of seven years. The post has been in place since 1926, where Comyns Berkeley was made Treasurer. The Honorary Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial matters of the College, in 2008 his main duties included:
- Ensuring that an annual budget is produced and that capital expenditure is appropriately planned.
- Overseeing decisions about salary levels and bonus allocation for staff.
- Reviewing budgets of all postgraduate meetings.
- Determining and reviewing the fee subscriptions, examinations, registration, overseas funding allocation and rental of premises.
- Presenting quarterly accounts of income and expenditure for F&E, Council and Investment Panel.
He is responsible for chairing the following Committees: Publications Management, BJOG Management and Management Audit; and is a Member of the of following Committees/Boards: Services Board; TOG Editorial Board; Congress Committee; Finance & Executive Committee; Investment Advisory Panel; Meetings Committee; Investment Advisory Panel; WellBeing; Member of Council, Finance Committee and Fund Raising Committee.
The Bookshop opened in June 1993 at 78 Park Road, under the governance of the College Secretary. In September 2000 it became part of the Publications Department, then from April 2005 the Bookshop formed a separate department of its own right. It sells a comprehensive range of books and software for women's health professionals, College gifts, book tokens and stamps. It also distributes and markets the RCOG Press titles. In May 1999 it moved to premises within the College at 27 Sussex Place. It also operates an online store on the College website that went live in July 1997 which by June 2001 offered the full stock range and a 'shopping basket' purchasing system.
The Bookshop initially produced two catalogues: College publications and other publications for sale; in 1995 the two catalogues were combined. An additional separate catalogue for RCOG Press titles continued until 1999 when it too was incorporated into the RCOG Bookshop catalogue. The catalogue was discontinued after 2003 and replaced by Bookshop news updates which were expanded into bulletins in 2004. A new Publications catalogue featuring items from the RCOG Press was produced in 2005. The Bookshop also issues gift catalogues listing College regalia for sale.
The College Museum was established in 1938 to collect and display pathological specimens and surgical and obstetrical instruments. From 1988, following the transfer of most specimens to other hospitals, the museum's role was confined to the displaying of instruments. The museum was disbanded in 1999. The Museum Committee was established in 1945 to administer the College Museum. In 1949 it changed its name to the Pathology Committee. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) was set up in 1950. Its terms of reference were as follows:
- to examine suggestions put forward for research.
- to advise Council on methods by which items of particular research could be carried out and to nominate, if necessary, ad hoc committees for the purpose.
- to advise Council on priority of any particular items of research.
In the 1950's the membership of the Pathology Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee is listed in the annual reports as if they were co-extensive, and Pathology Committee meetings are noted in their minutes as taking place immediately after Scientific Advisory Committee meetings. In July 1966 the two committees were amalgamated, and henceforth were known as the Scientific Advisory and Pathology Committee (SAPC). The word Pathology was dropped from the committee title in April 1984. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), as it is now known, is currently serviced by the College's Clinical Governance and Standards Department and reports to the Standards Board. Its broad remit encompasses both basic and clinical science, including health services research. In 2008 it was defined as follows:
- To 'Horizon scan' and debate relevant scientific issues, including future developments of relevance to the specialty.
- To produce regular news items and/or opinion papers for the membership.
- To contribute to College responses on national policies and direction.
- To react to requests for scientific advice from Officers, committees, working parties and Fellows/Members of the College.
- To advise Officers and appropriate committees about future national and international scientific and clinical meetings and study groups.
The College's Rare Tumour Registry was established in 1951 by agreement between the College and the governors of Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospitals. The Registry was to be located at the Chelsea Hospital for Women under the direction of the College's Pathology/Scientific Advisory Committee. A Registry for Diseases of the Trophoblast was established in 1961, and was administered as a subdivision of the Rare Tumour Registry. The word 'Rare' was dropped in 1964. In 1970 an Ovarian Tumour Panel was established and a renewed effort to register cases of hydatidiform mole was instituted. However, in 1973 the Tumour Registry was formally disbanded, except for the registration of cases of hydatidiform mole, which continued until circa 1988 (the Ovarian Tumour Panel was disbanded circa 1985). The registrar of the Tumour Registry was Magnus Haines (1909-1978). The registry for diseases of the trophoblast was organised by W W Parks and the prime mover on the Ovarian Tumour Panel was A D T Govan.
The Committee was founded by Council in 1950 as a standing committee of the RCOG, its terms of reference were: 'to advise the Council on matters relating to the National Health Act in Scotland'. (extract from Council minutes 20 May 1950: reference T16 p.1). Its first meeting was held on 17 July 1950 in Edinburgh, and committee meetings took place regularly in either Edinburgh or Glasgow. In 1968 following discussions with Council, the Committee was reconstituted as an executive sub-committee of Council. The new terms of reference of the Scottish Executive Committee were "to advise Council on matters relating to legislation and practice in Scotland affecting the objects and interests of its members, and to communicate on behalf of Council with the appropriate Scottish authorities on these matters and others of particular relevance to Scotland". By 2008 its remit was more general: "to advise on specialty-related matters within Scotland; to keep under review the provision of training and service; to monitor and advise on workforce issues". Minutes of all meetings were kept by the secretary and submitted to RCOG Council, this practice continues today.
The Welsh Executive Committee was established by Council in 1972 as a standing committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) to represent the views of the College to the Welsh Office during the reorganisation of health services in Wales. Its first meeting took place on 23 July 1972 with J R E James serving as Chairman; predominately meetings were held at Llandrindod Wells Hospital. In 2008 its remit was: to discuss and advise upon specialty related matters, particularly within the Principality of Wales. Minutes were kept by the Secretary and submitted to the Council of the RCOG for ratification, this practice continues presently.
The Ethics (or Ethical) Committee was established in 1982 to consider the ethical aspects and legal implications of matters of concern affecting the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It has considered a wide range of issues such as abortion, assisted reproduction, sex selection, female genital mutilation, the use of fetuses for research, gene therapy, court-authorised obstetric intervention, patient consent, personal health information and critical care decisions.
The Consumers' Forum was set up in 1993 to provide a multidisciplinary forum for the exchange of views and information between organisations representing and working on behalf of consumers of healthcare services and the specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology. It aimed to ensure that consumer perspectives informed and influenced practice through contributing to working party reports, clinical guidelines and other College activities. Core Forum group members were drawn from organisations whose focus directly related to gynaecology, obstretics or reproductive health (e.g. Maternity Alliance, National Childbirth Trust, Family Planning Association) and from organisations that provided consumer perspectives, but did not have a direct focus on gynaecology or women's health (e.g. the Patients' Association).
The Clinical Effectiveness Standards Board (CESB) was established in 1999 with responsibility for strategy and policy in relation to the College's clinical effectiveness and governance programme. Its main objectives included: development of a co-ordinated and structured programme of audit and guideline activity; co-ordination of a clinical effectiveness programme among the clinical and scientific meetings of the College; co-ordination and development of the College's programme in relation to quality improvement, particularly risk management, accreditation of services and consumer issues. It included representatives from the Department of Health, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the National Confidential Enquiries, the British Association of Medical Managers, other Royal Medical Colleges, and consumers. It took over co-ordination existing activities including clinical guidelines, Personal Assessment in Continuing Education (PACE) Reviews, and audits. It oversaw the work of the new Clinical Effectiveness Support Unit (CESU). The CESB held its last meeting in April 2000, when a new structure of governance was introduced, including a new Standards Board. From that date, the Guidelines and Audit Committee reported to the Standards Board, which also oversaw the work of CESU.
The Committee was established in 1930 to select members to be elevated to the fellowship. Fellows were Members who were judged worthy by their peers in distinguishing themselves in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Initially the Committee sat twice annually: in the autumn proposals were put forward for elevation, then after the Committee members had considered the list, a second meeting in the winter confirmed the names to be put to Council. Although the exact administrative arrangements varied, by the 1990s, the procedure was as follows:
1) Recommendations for elevation to Fellowship were invited from all Fellows. Members with sufficient experience were also encouraged to seek elevation by returning a CV form. The College Vice Presidents reviewed the papers in order to assess eligibility, with the assistance of the Chairmen of Overseas Reference and Representative Committees, if applicable. All cases were then put before the Fellowship Selection Committee before a final list was presented to Council for approval.
2) Nominations for Fellows Ad Eundem were collected by the Fellowship Selection Secretary throughout the year. The Finance and Executive Committee considered all the nominations and produced a shortlist. This was then brought to the Fellowship Selection Committee for approval.
In 1998 the process of Fellowship selection was reviewed and discussed. A simplified process was augmented and the Committee was disbanded. Discussions about those eligible for Fellowship became the responsibility of the Finance and Executive Committee, who then put the names to Council. The administrative departments of the College (the Membership Services Department and then the Administration Department) assumed responsibility for the procedure for selecting Members for elevation to the Fellowship, arranging admission ceremonies and maintaining the records of all Fellows, Members and Diplomates.
The first edition of The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist appeared in July 1999 as a quarterly journal aimed particularly at those participating in continuing medical education (CME, later known as CPD, continuing professional development) programmes. It included multiple-choice questions to be completed and submitted in return for the award of CME / CPD credits. The responsibilities of Editorial Board members were to advise on the commissioning of review articles in their area of specialty; commission and/or construct multiple-choice questions with explanation of answers; edit and subsequently proof-read their commissioned articles; write guest editorials; advise on new scientific, clinical and technical developments, clinical governance, risk management, areas of educational importance and medico-legal matters, and on the potential need for coverage in the journal; and to proof-read complete editions of the journal. The Board held its first meeting in June 1999.
The Reinstatement Committee was established in 1999 to consider how applications for reinstatement to the College Register from those removed as a result of GMC (or other) disciplinary action should be assessed. The remit of the Committee was:
1) To consider all applications for reinstatement to the RCOG Register of Fellows and Members from those who have been removed for reasons of misconduct;
2) To make all necessary and proper enquiries, as it saw fit, and to act according to equity and rules of natural justice;
3) To produce guidelines on the assessment procedure to be followed by both the applicant and the Committee, including appropriate criteria for reinstatement and an indication of the timeframe for the procedure;
4) To recommend to Council, in writing, the reinstatement, or otherwise, for each application. In 2001 the Committee reported to Council on progress and advised that it was necessary for the College to set up systems to ensure equity following rules of natural justice. This was particularly pertinent following the 1998 Human Rights Act. It was also recommended that the Committee deal with both removal and reinstatement. In 2001 a Removal and Reinstatement Committee was established in order to:
1) Review the membership of the College of those Fellows and Members who had been removed from the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the GMC or by the relevant body of any country overseas;
2) Review the membership of the College of those Fellows and Members referred to it by the President or his/her deputy where it was thought the individual had brought the College and/or profession into disrepute;
3) Assess applications for reinstatement received in the College from those who had previously been removed from the College Register for misconduct;
4) Comply with the regulations for removal from or reinstatement to the College Register as approved by Council. The Committee was to reach an agreed decision, which, if necessary, was a majority decision, and advised Council on these decisions. All discussions of the Committee were confidential to the Committee.
The Services Committee was established when Council decided to disband the Services Board in 2003. The new Services Committee took over a large proportion of what had been the Services Boards' responsibilities, and reported to Finance and Executive. Its remit was dated 24th March 2003; the main objective of the committee was to develop and co-ordinate services for Fellows and Members in the British Isles and Overseas. Its broadest terms of reference were to regularly develop and review a strategic plan, in relation to the provision of services by the Facilities Department, the Information Services Department, the Information Technology Department, the Membership Services Department and the Premises Department. More specifically, the Committee was to frame policies for access to, and storage of, rare books and manuscripts, instruments, personal papers and artefacts of historical interest for the benefit of Fellows, Members and suitably accredited visitors. It was also to keep abreast of, and advise upon, the development of computerised services within the College and to ensure that the services themselves were integrated with national developments. Additionally, it was to develop, monitor and evaluate the use of the RCOG website and to frame polices for the development of membership services. Finally, it was to advise and make recommendations concerning all matters relating to the care of the buildings and assets at 27 Sussex Place and 8 Kent Terrace. The Committee met on a quarterly basis from 2003 to 2005. Its existence was short-lived because in 2005 Council ratified the decision for the Services Committee to revert back to its former title and executive status as the Services Board.
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire was first published in 1902. It was owned by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire Publishing Company Limited. From 1933 the meetings of the board of directors of the Company took place in the College's premises. In 1950 the ownership of the Journal was acquired by the College and the Company was wound up. The Journal Committee was set up by the College following its acquisition of the Journal in 1950. In 1980 the Committee was reconstituted as a separate Journal Business Committee (renamed the Journal Management Board in 1988) to run the organisational and business aspects of the Journal, and an Editorial Committee to decide editorial policy and function. In 1992 these bodies were renamed the Journal Management Committee and Journal Editorial Board respectively and in 2000 they became BJOG Management Board and BJOG Editorial Board. The Journal has changed its name on several occasions since it was founded. It became The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth, from 1975 it was published as British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and, in January 2002 BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
In April 1995 an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) chaired by the Chief Medical Officer published "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services". The guiding principle of this report was that all patients wherever they live should recieve high quality cancer care to maximise both cure rates and quality of life. Its purpose was to act as a strategic framework to assist in the planning of cancer services in the UK. It recommended that professional bodies develop guidance on the level of expertise and support required to manage different cancers. In response, the British Gynaecological Cancer Society (BGCS) and the RCOG established a Joint Working Group to provide guidance on the recommendations of the report in relation to gynaecological cancer. A draft report was circulated to Fellows and Members as a Consultation Document, and responses considered before publication of the final report in January 1997.
A first RCOG report in 1994 on minimum standards of care in labour attempted to establish guidelines for staffing, equipment and general facilities on the labour ward. Following acceptance of the increased involvement of the consultant obstetrician in the labour ward, the Joint Working Group of the Royal College of Midwives and the RCOG aimed to produce guidance about the essential minimum midwife and medical staff numbers required to support women in labour. The final report was published in 1999 and acknowledged the value of multidisciplinary involvement, making recommendations to improve organisation, practice and result in safer childbirth.
In 2001 the College and the Faculty issued a joint statement outlining the need to further develop community gynaecology. A joint working group was formed which reported in 2001. The main recommendations were that the name of the subspecialty should be changed from Consultant in Community Gynaecology to Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH); that a Joint Committee of the Faculty and the College should be set up as a separate committee and not as a subcommittee of the Subspecialty Committee. The Committee was to:
- report directly to the Standards Board of the RCOG and the Higher Training Committee of the Faculty
- be responsible for Additional Training and Special Skills modules relating to SRH
- be responsible for improvements and changes in the modular log book for SRH.
This joint working party was established to explore key issues affecting students' clinical learning experiences and to identify strategies to address them. Their remit was to:
- Review the clinical learning environment in maternity services with particular respect to the recruitment of doctors and midwives.
- Gather national and international research and evidence pertaining to the development and support of a good clinical learning environment.
- Identify and propagate examples of good practice relating to the clinical learning environment and recruitment.
- Develop a collaborative strategy for the development of professional support within the clinical learning environment and enhanced recruitment.
The working party comprised a group of professionals with relevant expertise and experiences encompassing the academic, clinical, practical and organisational aspects of learning environments. The group met on five occasions, from January to September 2006.