The working party was established by the College in July 1980 in order "To consider developments in further specialisation within the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, including training implications, and to make recommendations" (minutes 6 Nov 1980: ref M12/1). The working party first met in November 1980. It presented its report to Council in 1982. The report was published as a discussion document in November 1982.
This working party was set up at the request of Council to prepare the report listed below. The report, chaired by David Painton FRCOG, set out the current legal position in England, Scotland and Wales regarding termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality and made recommendations of relevance to obstetricians and gynaecologists who are prepared to carry out termination of pregnancy under these conditions.
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 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.
The sub-specialisation advisory group was established in 1983 by Council to advise it "on practical ways of implementing the recommendations of the working party on further specialisation with particular regard to training and the recognition of training [and] to consider the need for an advisory board or boards to control sub-specialisation and to maintain high standards" (meeting SSG 1, 4 Jan 1983: reference M17/1). The group first met in January 1983, under the chairmanship of T L T Lewis, with instructions to report back to Council within one year, initially on gynaecological oncology. The final report was produced in 1984. In July 1983 Rustum Feroze, PRCOG, and Professor R W Beard, chairman of the Scientific Advisory and Pathology Committee (SAPC), decided that the SAPC should make proposals on the training programme of individuals undertaking two-year sub-specialisation training in reproductive endocrinology, gynaecological oncology and fetal medicine. Three groups of specialists were formed, as sub-units of the sub-specialisation advisory group, to make proposals on each of these sub-specialities. These proposals were then to go to the SAPC for discussion, with final proposals to go to Council for ratification.
The working party first met on 16 July 1993; the Chairman was Professor M J Whittle, Professor of Fetal Medicine at the University of Birmingham. Representatives from the General Practitioners and Midwifery Service were present, also other Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologists. The terms of reference were: a) To consider and develop suggestions made by the British Paediatric Association (BPA)/RCOG Joint Standing Committee regarding facilities required for childbirth in different settings. b) To define minimum standards of staffing, facilities and organisation in each setting for the guidance of managers, clinical directors and health professionals.
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 established in 1959 under the chairmanship of H J Malkin to define the general principles to be followed in the building of maternity units. It reported in May 1960.
This committee was set up by the Finance and Executive Committee in 1962 under the chairmanship of H J Malkin to consider the government white paper A Hospital Plan for England and Wales. It reported to Council later that same year.
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 set up in 1969, under the chairmanship of E A J Alment, then Honorary Secretary of the College, to consider DHSS plans for maternity accommodation and to provide advice on the planning and design of maternity units and gynaecological departments.
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.
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 working party was set under the chairmanship of E A J Alment to consider staffing structures for obstetrics and gynaecology in relation to standards of practice, training and service. It reported to Council in September 1980.
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 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.
The sub-committee was established at the instance of Council in 1942, to be instructed by the Finance and Executive Committee, following the receipt of a memorandum on the subject forwarded from the Department of Health for Scotland. Its terms of reference were to report, if so instructed by the Finance and Executive committee, upon the steps to be taken to safeguard the health, from the gynaecological aspect, of women war workers.
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.
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.