Annual Report 2015
Promoting excellence in cardiovascular care
Our Mission and Aims
The British Cardiovascular Society is dedicated to the promotion of cardiovascular health.
The BCS will:
Ø set standards of clinical excellence for the benefit of patients
Ø be committed to enhancing and maintaining the highest standards in training, education and research
Ø be the primary source of professional advice and advocacy in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, and engage with government, patient groups, research councils, funding bodies and industry
Ø deliver these objectives in collaboration with patients, the wider public, and partner organisations
The above objectives will be delivered at all times within an ethical framework based upon the public interest and professional integrity.
Officers of the Society
President / Dr Sarah Clarke / 2015 – 2018Honorary Secretary / Dr Robert Henderson / 2014 – 2017
Vice-President Clinical Standards / Dr Kevin Fox / 2013 – 2016
Vice-President Clinical Standards (Elect) / Dr Andrew Wragg / 2015 – 2016
Vice-President Corporate Finance and Development / Dr David Walker / 2015 – 2018
Vice-President Education and Research / Prof Cliff Garratt / 2014 – 2017
Vice-President Training / Dr Ian Wilson / 2013 – 2016
Vice-President Training (Elect) / Prof Russell Smith / 2015 – 2016
Non-executive Trustee / Mr Graham Meek / 2007
Non-executive Trustee / Mr Nigel Turner / 2008
Non-executive Trustee / Mr John Carrier / 2009
Non-executive Trustee / Prof Sir Roger Boyle / 2011
Contents
Our Mission and Aims 2
Officers of the Society 2
Introduction and report from the President 4
Honorary Secretary Report……………………………………………………………………… ...6
Clinical Standards Division ……………………………………………………………………….9
Corporate Finance and Development Division ………………………………………………..10
Education and Research Division..………………………………………………………………14
Training Division……………………………………………………………………………………16
Introduction and report from the President
Dr Sarah Clarke
It gives me great pleasure to present the Annual Report of the British Cardiovascular Society for the period 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016. Some of you may notice that the publication date has changed and this is to ensure we include the financial report of the Society up to end March 2016 and that we are compliant with the requirements placed upon us as a Charity.
BCS is only as strong as its members and it is encouraging that our membership continues to grow year on year and we are almost at 3000 members. This is primarily due to the efforts of our Honorary Secretary Rob Henderson who has worked hard to ensure that membership has considerable value for our members. The Regional Specialty Advisors (RSA) roles provide a key bi-directional link between BCS and our membership at a local level. Please ensure you know who your Regional RSA is as a point of contact.
BCS now has 18 Affiliated Groups and our extended family extends to over 20,000 professionals engaged in cardiovascular healthcare at a national, European and global level. This collective union, channelled through the BCS Council, allows us to have much more powerful influence on cardiovascular healthcare. This is especially important in our devolved healthcare system and it is important to recognise that the BCS has responsibilities throughout the United Kingdom. Through the BCS Council we work closely with the Presidents of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Cardiac Societies and have developed a successful joint educational meeting with the Scottish Cardiac Society. (established by my Predecessor!).
As BCS President, a key role is to foster links with other external organisations such as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) where I represent BCS on their Council. It has been a pleasure to work with Professor Jane Dacre, President of the RCP. Through the Council, I am able to highlight the importance of specialist cardiovascular care and help shape the debate in many areas of mutual interest to the College and other Societies. The trainees have been high on the agenda this year. It is important that the ‘Shape of Training’ delivers competent trainees in general but also sub-speciality cardiology and Iain Wilson, Vice President for Training has worked tirelessly to ensure the training programme is fit for purpose for cardiology. In addition, we have witnessed the dispute with the trainee contract but sadly, at the time of writing, this is still not resolved. It is important our trainees can deliver a safe service as well as receive appropriate training along the way. As a constituent body of the European Society of Cardiology, the BCS is closely linked with the ESC. As the ESC has grown in both the number of its linked national societies and an expansion of associations, councils and working groups, the potential influence of its major national societies has inevitably been affected. However, the BCS remains actively involved with the ESC at many levels and we worked closely with them to deliver a very successful ESC Congress in 2015 at ExCeL in London.
Our association with the American College of Cardiology continues to blossom. Dr John Harold, past President of the ACC has fostered a “special relationship” between our societies and created many educational and training opportunities for our members. We also have a very successful “twinning” with the ACC California Chapter.
In the reports from the individual BCS Divisions, within this Annual Report, you will see the tremendous amount of work all the Executives undertake on behalf of the membership.
As VP Training, Ian Wilson, has run a very effective and efficient Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) and has worked hard to ensure the ‘Shape of Training’ delivers for Cardiology. The Knowledge Based Assessment KBA) for trainees has been merged successfully with the European Exam in General Cardiology (EEGC) with a pass rate in excess of 85% in 2015. Ian stands down as VP Training at the Annual Conference in June and, on behalf of the BCS membership, I thank him for his enthusiastic and tireless pursuit of ‘what is best for trainees’ and ‘what is best for patients’. In June, we welcome Prof Russell Smith as the new VP Training (2016 – 2019).
Kevin Fox as VP Clinical Standards has continued, with his team, to provide advice around revalidation, commissioning, national cardiovascular audits, quality improvement and detailed responses to guidelines and key national reports. As a professional society it is one of our major responsibilities to be an advocate for high quality cardiovascular care in challenging times. Kevin stands down as VP Clinical Standards at the Annual Conference in June and, on behalf of the BCS membership, I thank him for his endless enthusiasm and hard work in this role. In June we welcome Andrew Wragg as the new VP Clinical Standards (2016-2019).
The BCS Annual Conference remains our flagship educational event. I am delighted that Cliff Garratt, VP Education & Research has further developed the successful formula to deliver a ‘must attend’ meeting for trainees, cardiologists and our allied professionals. Cliff also oversees an extensive portfolio of other BCS education activities including the very successful “Year in Cardiology”, the “Cardiology Review Course” in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic and the National Training Days, to name but a few. In 2016, we welcomed Dr Denise Braganza as Chair of the Education Committee to develop the education strategy further both here in the UK and also abroad where the BCS brand is in demand. The Academic and Research Committee under the Chair of Professor Michael Marber is evolving and looking to oversee further development of the Clinical Study Groups (CSGs) which are key to the development and delivery of research at a local and national level in conjunction with other stakeholders such as the NIHR and BHF. Michael Marber steps down at the Annual Conference in June and we are grateful for his advice on matters relating to research and his hard work in advancing the Academic and Research Committee remit over the last few years. We also thank Robin Choudhury for his role in establishing the successful CSG initiative.
At a time when the spotlight is being shone on Charities and in times of austerity, it is vital to have good financial governance and management. We were delighted that Dr David Walker was elected to VP Corporate Finance and Development in 2015. David, with Edward Adomako (BCS Finance Manager) has delivered a healthy finance report . This has allowed us to undertake many projects which otherwise would not have been possible and also to look at other opportunities to secure our finances for the future.
The BCS continues to enjoy a close and productive working relationship with the British Heart Foundation. As well as their continued support for our Annual Conference, we have a shared agenda in promoting the quality of cardiovascular care and work closely together in many areas including an important advocacy role. Both Peter Weissberg as Medical Director and Simon Gillespie as Chief Executive have built on the already strong relationship between our societies. Peter Weissberg retires later this year and the BCS is very much indebted to Peter for his friendship and support of the BCS over the years and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement.
It is hard to believe that I have been in office as President for almost a year. It has been an interesting, challenging and yet rewarding year. We held a Board ‘Away Day’ (at Fitzroy Square!) in June 2015 and developed a 3 year strategy for the Society focussing on communications (developing a new website and digital environment) and educational opportunities in the UK and abroad (building on the BCS brand). You will hear more of these developments in the coming year. There have been a number of staff changes at the BCS office in Fitzroy Square over the year including the departure of Steven Yeats, our Chief Executive Officer, who leaves at the end of March to pursue other interests, having gained an MBA. Departures and change present many challenges but I would like to thank all the staff for their support and hard work ensuring all the work of the Society continues seamlessly. I would also like to thank the Board for their support over the last year. Many members give their time freely to support the BCS though the committees and working groups of the society as well as the BCS Executive and Board. I appreciate that it is increasingly difficult to take leave from clinical and academic duties but the time and commitment given is humbling and a testament to the importance given to the work of the society which is for the benefit of all members. I would also like to thank all our BCS members without whom such a vibrant and dynamic organisation would not exist!
On behalf of the BCS Board, we look forward to working with you all over the coming year.
Do let us know if you would like to find out more about the work of the Society or get involved through one of the Committees. Your Society needs you and new faces are always very welcome!
Honorary Secretary Report
Dr Robert Henderson
Membership
The British Cardiovascular Society welcomes membership applications from all healthcare professionals and scientists with an interest in cardiovascular healthcare and science. The Society offers great value subscription rates, including joint membership with several Affiliated Groups. Cardiologists in training are particularly welcome through affiliation with the British Junior Cardiologists Association.
Benefits of BCS membership include:
· Free registration for the Annual Conference
· Reduced rates for BCS courses including:
o Cardiology Review Course (with the Mayo Clinic)
o Cases, Controversies and Updates (with the Mayo Clinic)
o A Year in Cardiology
o National Training Days (two per year)
o A Career in Cardiology
o Research in Cardiology
· Free access to Heart online
· Paper Heart at a discounted subscription of £80
· Free access to CardioSource (in collaboration with the ACC) including online access to the JACC stable of journals
· Complimentary access to ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine
· Automatic membership of the ESC
· Eligibility for the Travel Bursary Scheme, designed to assist and promote attendance at certain international congresses - including the ACC and ESC, and BCS to present abstracts
· Regular electronic communications including the “Newswire” and the President’s Bulletin, which provide cardiovascular news and updates about BCS activities
· Access to online educational resources, webcasts, and editorials in the members-only area of the BCS website.
The Society also provides significant professional support to its members and additional membership benefits include:
· Representation of cardiovascular interests with national organisations including the Royal College of Physicians and Department of Health, and NHS England
· Support for National Clinical Excellence Awards
· Eligibility to stand for elected BCS positions
· Full participation in business meetings and voting rights
· Access to the facilities of the Society's offices
The Society offers Honorary BCS membership to all invited speakers delivering BCS named lectures at the Annual Conference and to other selected and prominent clinicians from home and abroad. New Honorary Members in 2015 included Professor Jonathan Kalman, Professor Catherine Otto, and Lord Robert Winston.
The membership of the Society continues to grow and currently stands at 2925 members, reflecting the high national profile of the Society, on-going recruitment efforts and enhanced membership benefits.
Through links with 18 Affiliated Groups, the BCS also acts as an umbrella organisation representing over 20,000 professionals engaged in cardiovascular healthcare at a national level, across Europe, and wider afield.
The BCS also links with smaller organisations with cardiovascular interests and has a formal Association with the British Cardio-Oncology Society (BCOS), and the British Undergraduate Cardiovascular Association (BUCA).