Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

In 2000, the RCOG put in place a new board structure in order to free-up Council's time to concentrate on strategic and specialty wide issues. The three boards (Standards, Services and Education) were given executive and decision-making authority and were able to ratify the decisions of reporting committees and groups. They were responsible directly to Council and met quarterly. The first meeting of the Standards Board took place in July 2000. It assumed some functions of the previous Clinical Effectiveness and Standards Board but also dealt with training and manpower issues. Its initial remit was: development of a structured programme of audit and guideline activity and the co-ordination of a clinical effectiveness programme; development of clinical governance encompassing continuous professional development and revalidation; recognition of UK and overseas training posts and the future accreditation of services; monitoring and development of College programmes leading to Specialist Registration; and consideration of the impact of medical workforce issues on the specialty. As the College began to undertake new work in the area of clinical governance and standards, the Board acquired new functions and in May 2007 a new remit was agreed: to develop the overall strategic direction in relation to professional, clinical and service standards; to consider the views of external organisations and the Consumers Forum; to consider scientific and ethical issues and their impact on the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology; to direct and oversee the RCOG clinical guidelines and audit programmes and activities in relation to service standards, including the development of service models; to supervise continuing professional development, appraisal and revalidation activites and to ensure that satisfactory programmes were established for doctors and trusts requesting support from the College.