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In 1967 the RCOG, in collaboration with the Simon Population Trust, carried out a survey among practising gynaecologists in order to determine their views and experience of the sterilisation of women, and the extent to which this operation was carried out in NHS hospitals. The results of the survey were subsequently written up in a report under the joint authorship of Sir John Peel, PRCOG, and Mr C P Blacker, Chairman of the Simon Population Trust. The report was published in the British Medical Journal in March 1969.

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 1991 a health committee was formed by the House of Commons. One of the matters under enquiry was the provision of maternity services, and the College was asked to provide evidence on pre-conception and ante-natal care. At the same time the College was conducting a series of meetings with the RCGP and the RCM to produce a joint document on maternity care (a copy of this document is held by the RCOG Archives at C15).

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.

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.

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 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 working party was established in January 1999 by the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists under the chairmanship of Peter Niven FRCOG. Its remit was "to agree measures of success in structured training and to audit those measures"(report p.5: Ref M53/2). It made its report in december 2000.

The working party was established following a proposal by the Education Committee of the RCOG to consider assessment for the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG) with the following remit: to consider the need for change in the current system of assessment leading to the award of DRCOG; to define the educational objectives upon which training and assessment should be based; to suggest modifications to the current training and assessment; to make recommendations about the implementation of these modifications. The working party met on seven occasions under the chairmanship of Professor Dunlop. It made its report in 1993.

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 Group was set up by Council in 1991 to monitor the development of posts in community gynaecology. Its terms of reference were: to determine the role of the consultant in reproductive health/community gynaecology and to advise Council on its development; to formulate guidelines for training; to recommend procedure for recognition of training programmes; to recommend procedure for the award of certificates of completion of training; to monitor existing training posts; to propose procedure for RCOG/Faculty of Family Planning involvement in consultant appointments; to liase between RCOG, BAFPD and the proposed Faculty of Family Planning on reproductive health/community gynaecology; to liase with the Department of Health regarding manpower and funding for posts. The group was considered to have completed its work by mid 1993 and held its last meeting in October of that year.

The working party was established by the RCOG in 1969 to study and report on unplanned pregnancy. The working party commenced its study under the chairmanship of Sir John Peel in 1970 and presented its report to Council in 1972.

The sub-committee was set up by Council in 1977 to discuss the College's future attitude to the Joint Committee on Contraception (JCC) and to family planning in general. The sub-committee met on two occasions, and presented its conclusions to the Finance and Executive Committee on 16 February 1978 and to Council on 1 April 1978.

this working party was set up under the chairmanship of Professor Ian Cooke FRCOG with the following terms of reference: 1: to consider ways by which Fellows and Members can be represented within the College. 2: to examine the mechanisms by which Fellows and Members are represented on Council. 3: to consider the special needs of Fellows and Members overseas. 4: to review the method of appointment to office in the College. 5: to report to Council within six months. The working party held 5 meetings between September 1995 and March 1996 and presented its final report on 30 March 1996.

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 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.

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.

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

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 governing body of the College is Council, which includes six Honorary Officers: the President, Senior Vice President, two Vice Presidents (who are elected by Council for a maximum of three years), the Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary (whose term of office is for a maximum of seven years). The Honorary Officers meet on a weekly basis and each take turn to raise any issues they would like to discuss and give feedback on meetings they have attended.

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:

1. Ensuring that an annual budget is produced and that capital expenditure is appropriately planned.
2. Overseeing decisions about salary levels and bonus allocation for staff.
3. Reviewing budgets of all postgraduate meetings.
4. Determining and reviewing the fee subscriptions, examinations, registration, overseas funding allocation and rental of premises.
5. 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 Office of Honorary Secretary 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 William Fletcher Shaw was made Secretary. In 2008 the Honorary Secretary's main responsiblities were:
Supporting and assisting the President
The agenda for Council and Finance and Executive Committee
Chairing the Services Board and Services Group
Deputy Chair of the Consumers Forum
Representing the College Officers on the Staff Committee
RCOG Press Officer
RCOG awards, prizes & lectures
Attending meetings of Regional College Advisers, College Tutors and Overseas Chairmen
Fellows ad eundem selection process
Representation on European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Ex officio member of all Boards and Standing Committees
Department of Health Workforce matters

The Honorary Secretary works closely with Membership services in respect of:
a) Approving requests for the purchase of data about Fellows and Members
b) Corresponding with the family members of deceased Fellows and Members
c) Advice and approval of applications for Associates and Affiliates
d) The organisation of MRCOG and FRCOG Admission Ceremonies

He also works closely with the Communications and External Affairs department in respect of:
a) RCOG communications to Associates and Affiliates
b) Communications with Fellows and Members on contemporary issues
c) Membership benefits
d) Approving publicity material for national and international meetings
e) Medical Students' Evenings

The Honorary Secretary is a member of various Committees/Working Parties including: Management Audit Committee; Work life Balance; RCOG/APOG Working Group; Clinical Standards Working Party; Future Workforce in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

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 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 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 Examination Committee was established by Council in 1929 as a standing committee of the College. Its first chairman was Dr T Watts Eden and its members comprised representatives from Scotland, Ireland and the provinces, with the College president, treasurer and two honorary secretaries as ex-officio members. The Committee's function was to select candidates for Membership through an examination of applications and qualifications. Examinations were carried out by a panel selected by the Committee.

The Committee drafted the regulations for the Diploma and Membership examinations. The first membership (MRCOG) examination was held in the Summer of 1930 (see B1M/1 p.12); from this time it has been held twice yearly. The Membership examination is designed for doctors who wished to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. In 1931 the Committee first agreed a fee should be levied on those taking the examination, although there was much wrangling over this issue. There was no formal decision to make candidates take a written examination, rather the process evolved from the initial examinations process of considering a candidates case history and qualifications. As the examination regulations evolved, the examination process became more analogous and less subjective. In 1970 it was decided to split the examination into two parts, known as the MRCOG Parts I and II (B1M/10 meeting C383); the first Part I examination was held in September 1970 and the first Part II examination the following year. The first Diploma in Obstetrics examination (DRCOG) was held on 2 March 1934 (ref: B1/3/2), primarily this examination has been intended for general practioners (GPs) who wish to include obstetrics and gynaecology as part of their service to patients. Organisation and administration of the examinations became the responsibility of the College's Examination Department.

Inspection and recognition (or otherwise) of hospitals was a regular part of the Committee's work from 1935 until 1944, when the Hospital Recognition Sub-committee was established. In 1947 this committee was recognised as a separate standing committee (see B4), removing the hospital recognition function from the Examination Committee. The process of managing the MRCOG and the DRCOG led to the establishment of the following sub-committees of the Examination Committee, to deal with specific issues:
1) Assessment
2) DRCOG
3) Part 1 MRCOG
4) Part 2 MRCOG EMQ's
5) Part 2 MRCOG essays
6) Part 2 MRCOG MCQ's
7) Part 2 MRCOG oral

By 2008 the functions of the Committee were listed as:
1) Responsible for establishing the content and recommending to the Education Board the format of College examinations.
2) Responsible for setting, marking and reviewing questions and question papers.
3) Ensuring the standard, validity and fairness of examinations and producing appropriate pass lists.
4) Overseeing the function of the Examination Department, including communication with candidates, the logistics of preparing for examinations and communications with overseas centres.
5) Recommending to the Education Board suitable individuals to become DRCOG and MRCOG examiners and suggesting suitable Members and Fellows to be Members of the various Sub-Committees of the Examination and Assessment Committee.
6) On a regular basis, reviewing relevant overseas examinations, in particular those where successful candidates gain exemption from the Part 1 MRCOG. Giving advice and help to overseas examinations and, from time to time, making recommendations with regard to suitable College representatives to be external examiners for these examinations.
7) Joint responsibility for the RCOG/London School of Tropical Medicine Diploma in Reproductive Health in Developing Countries.
8) Responsible for the examination for the Advanced Training Programme in Obstetric Ultrasound organised by the Standing Joint Committee of the RCOG/Royal College of Radiologists.

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.

An Accreditation Sub-Committee was established in 1970 to direct the accreditation of training and report to Council. The committee approved following procedure: - a member of the College should be eligible to apply for accreditation after three years further approved experience and training in obstetrics and gynaecology beyond the requirements of the MRCOG examination, of which two years were to be subsequent to admission to the membership of the RCOG and normally in a post of responsibility corresponding to that of a senior registrar in an NHS hospital; the administration of accreditation should be the responsibility of the Postgraduate Medical Education Committee. (Council minutes 26 Sept 1970; Archives reference: B13/1) Later known as the Accreditation Panel, and from 1973 as the Accreditation Committee, it became the Higher Training Committee (HTC) in 1984. Its role was to "oversee and regulate all matters pertaining to higher training" and was responsible for: inspecting and recognising higher training posts at registrar and senior registrar levels; agreeing higher training programmes for accreditation; monitoring the progress of trainees; recommending individuals to Council for accreditation; advising Council on the regulations for accreditation. In December 1985 a Subspecialty Board was established as a sub-committee of the Higher Training Committee; in July 1988 this Board became an independent standing committee. In 1998 the Higher Training Committee's functions relating to the recognition of specialist registrar posts was passed to the Hospital Recognition Committee (HRC). The Higher Training Committee continued to carry out its other functions under the new name of the Specialist Training Committee from 1999. The Specialist Training Committee was disbanded in July 2007 and was replaced by the Specialty Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). The function of the Committee is to be responsible for the content, structure and delivery of the Specialty Training Programme and to advise the eligibility of doctors for the award of the Certificate of Completion of Training. All the above committees were/are serviced by the College's Postgraduate Training Department (PGT) and reported to the Education Board.

A Subspecialty Board first met in December 1984 as a sub-committee of the Higher Training Committee. The Board was created to fulfil some of the recommendations of the Working Party on Further Specialisation within Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Sub-specialisation Advisory Group. In July 1988 the Board became a standing committee. Its present remit is to advise and keep under review the development of subspecialisation in four fields (gynaecological oncology, reproductive medicine, maternal and fetal medicine, and urogynaecology) including requirements and regulations for subspecialist training and accreditation. It is also responsible for establishing the criteria and procedures for approval of subspecialty trainees, training centres and training programmes, and for subspecialist accreditation on completion of training. The Committee:

• Ensures visits are arranged to assess prospective training centres and trainees in post.
  • Makes recommendations to the Education Board regarding the recognition of centres and programmes on the basis of advice provided in the visitors' reports.

• Makes recommendations to the Education Board regarding the award of certificates of Subspecialist Accreditation on the basis of advice provided in visitors' reports following trainee final review visits.

  • Provides feedback to programme directors on the progress of trainees based on information submitted in the visitors' reports following mid-term review visits.
  • Liaises with programme directors to ensure the syllabi, requirements for training and the various application and report forms are updated appropriately.
  • Keeps statistics on current and past trainees, including manpower and funding information, and the number of centres and programmes approved.

  The Committee reports to the Education Board, meeting four times a year and is serviced by the College's Postgraduate Training Department.

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 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.

The European Committee of the RCOG was established in 1991 and held its first meeting in September that year. It was set up to monitor developments in Europe, as it was felt that the many changes taking place required more than an ad hoc approach from the College. It worked closely with a number of Europoean organisations, including the European College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ECOG), of which the RCOG was a founder member, and the European Board of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (EBGO). These two organisations later merged to become the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG), a section of the Union Européenne des Medécins Spécialistes (UEMS), based in Brussels. The Committee took a particular interest in the uniformity and reciprocity of training and in employment issues. It was disbanded in 1998.

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 External Affairs Committee was set up on April 6th 1933 to deal with external matters not specifically the concern of any one College Committee, such as matters of public and national health, and with public enquiries. It was also known as the External Relations Committee. Its activities were gradually taken over by Finance and Executive Committee during the Second World War, and it is last mentioned as a functioning committee in Council and Finance and Executive Committee minutes in 1943. The last minutes surviving in the minute book (ref: RCOG/T4) date from 16 June 1939.

The Academic Committee was established in 1996 under the chairmanship of Professor E M Symonds, to promote and safeguard all aspects of academic obstetrics and gynaecology including research and research training, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and academic jobs and training, particularly in relation to recruitment and retention, and to monitor academic staff and funding in obstetrics and gynaecology. It worked closely with the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the RCOG Scientific Advisory Committee.

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.