Strategic Aims

The primary aim of BAPS is to set the standards of care of paediatric surgical practice in the UK and Ireland.

Objectives

1. To support Paediatric Surgical Practice
2. To promote advancement of study, practice and research in Paediatric Surgery
3. To maintain links with Sub-specialist Societies and other groups within Paediatric Surgery
4. To liaise with the Surgical and other Royal Colleges, Professions allied to medicine, and other relevant Professional and governmental bodies.
5. To foster professional relations with Paediatric Surgeons overseas
6. To maintain the proper and prudent management of the resources of BAPS as a registered UK Charity in line with the requirements of the Charity Commission.

Support

1. The President and Executive ensure regular communication with the members and Associate members of BAPS via two annual council meetings, regular e-mailed newsletters and an updated website.
2. The implications of Government policies are discussed by the Executive and Council and appropriate advice circulated to the membership
3. The Association maintains a web site with information for members and the general public
4. There are seven advisory committees which report to the BAPS executive.

Advancement of Paediatric Surgery

The British Association of Paediatric Surgeons has established six committees to advise the executive committee and BAPS members on aspects pertinent to paediatric surgery.

• Education
• Trauma
• Research
• Clinical outcomes
• International affairs
• Ethics

Education

• Determines which courses are approved by BAPS and advises on course dates to avoid clashes/conflict.
• Matches courses with the paediatric surgical curriculum
• Ensures all aspects of curriculum are covered over a 6 year span
• Works closely with SAC and exam board (FRCS Paed)

Regarding Surgeons in Training, the Training and Education Committee is responsible for:

• Production of the Paediatric Surgical Curriculum and promotion of its usage
• Updating the Curriculum in the light of evaluation reports and in response to national initiatives
• Considering applications for BAPS recognition of educational meetings and conferences
• Co-ordinating the running of national Training days, ensuring the educational value
• Monitoring the quality of these activities

Trauma

• Informs BAPS members of advances in trauma care
• Collects data regarding trauma cases in UK
• Advises national accident strategy/prevention
• Links with RCPCH on matters relating to trauma
• Advises APLS
• Is responsible for improving the quality of care delivered to injured children
• Audits and develops management guidelines
• Organises National training meetings

Research

 

• Ensures rigorous scientific scrutiny of research & audit projects approved by BAPS
• Advises on academic programme for BAPS international congress
• Advises nomination for JPS & Isabel Forshall lecturer
• Sits on appointment committee for BAPS fellowship
• Enables and oversees multi-centre UK & Ireland Paediatric surgical research
• Advises BAPS Executive on issues related to research
• Advises the SAC on research issues related to training
• Is responsible for overseeing abstract marking for the Annual Congress
• Promotes basic science research and encourages trainees to participate in research
• Provides courses for members related to research/clinical trials methodology
• Approves grant applications
• Participates in overseas research club
• Provides input into BAPS/CASS and other audit projects

Clinical Outcome Group

• Advises BAPS on standards in paediatric surgery and provides “funnel plot” of surgical results
• Identifies and scrutinises areas of excellence
• Co-operates with research group to plan BAPS audits
• Works closely with new revalidation group to identify “outliers”.
• Ascertains and benchmarks clinical outcomes of relevance to Paediatric surgery in order to set a clinical standard
• Produces high quality patient information documents to allow parents and children access to the highest quality information to make appropriate decisions
• Agrees and monitors audits suggested by BAPS members ensuring feedback
• Selects outcome measures
• Performs audit against evidence-based standards
• Reviews audit systems and software
• Is responsible for practice review questionnaires

International Affairs committee

• Promotes BAPS standing internationally and nurtures international relations
• Administers international fellowships/greenwood fellowship
• Overseas BAPS scholarships
• Strengthens BAPS links with WOFAPS
• Organises neonatal skills course at PAPSA (biannually)

Ethics committee

• Advises BAPS on ethical/legal aspects of paediatric surgery
• Co-operates with RCPCH
• Provides advice to BAPS members re ethical concerns

The chair of each committee is elected by the BAPS council members and is ratified by the executive committee. The chair has a 3 year term of office, with a possible extension to a further 3 years.
Members of the committee are sought from BAPS membership – with a 3 year term of office.

Responsibilities:

The committee should meet physically or by teleconference at least 3 times annually. It is expected that one meeting take place the afternoon before the Winter Meeting.

There should be at least one written report to the BAPS executive annually in addition to a presentation by the chair at the annual (winter) meeting.

It is expected that

• All minutes are placed on the BAPS website
• All members details (ie name, contact details, term of office) preferably with a photo is placed on the BAPS website.

Links

• British Association of Paediatric Urologists (BAPU)
• British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic surgeons (BAPES)
• CCLG (Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia) Surgical Working Group
• BAPS International Affairs Committee
• Experimental Research Club
• Academic Research Group
• History Club
• Links with the Royal Surgical Colleges, ensuring the setting and maintenance of standards in Paediatric Surgery and offer a forum for discussion of political, educational, training and strategic matters

Links with other surgical specialist associations through the Federation of Surgical Specialist Associations
• Links with the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland
• Links with the Children’s Surgical Forum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
• Links with medical specialist associations through the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), Association of Paediatric anesthetists (APA), British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM), British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Society (BMFMS), British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition Services (BSPGHAN) and the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
• Links with nursing through the Association of British Paediatric Nurses (ABPN)
• Links with the BMA Paediatric and Surgical Subcommittees of Central Consultants & Specialists Committee
• Contact with NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), and Government Agencies so that BAPS provides professional advice and influences policy

Fostering relations with Surgeons overseas

1. Links with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)
2. Links with the European Union of Paediatric Surgical Association (EUPSA)
3. Links with the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS)
4. Links with other Paediatric Surgical Societies and individuals worldwide

Management of resources

Income

• Membership subscriptions
• Possible surplus from annual International Scientific Meeting
• Alternative funding sources (donations, legacies & industry)

Expenditure

• The Executive (trustees) are responsible for the prudent management of finances supporting the Honorary Treasurer in advising and managing expenditure
• The internet, e-mail and web pages will be used more frequently, keeping printed communications to a minimum
• Travel expenses will be kept to a minimum
• Office costs will be regularly reviewed

Capital reserves and investment policy

• Capital reserves are monitored closely
• Policy of low to medium risk investments
• Investments, to be ethically determined, specifically excluding armaments, tobacco and alcohol products.