BAPS - STRATEGIC AIMS

July 2007

INTRODUCTION

The British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) is a registered charity founded in 1953, and maintains a permanent office in the Royal College of Surgeons of England, London. The Association has a truly International membership with many (800) members worldwide

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

The Strategic Aims are based on the objectives of the Association which are:-

1. The support of Paediatric Surgical Practice

2. The advancement of study, practice and research in Paediatric Surgery

3. To maintain links with Sub-specialist Societies and other groups within Paediatric Surgery

4. Liaison with the Surgical and other Royal Colleges, the Professions allied to medicine, other relevant Professional bodies and Government

5. Fostering of professional relations with Paediatric Surgeons overseas 6. The proper and prudent management of the resources of BAPS as a registered UK Charity in line with the requirements of the Charity Commissioners

1. The support of Paediatric Surgical Practice

a) The President and Executive ensure regular communication with Members and Associates of BAPS

b) The implications of Government policies are discussed by the Executive and Council and appropriate advice circulated to the membership

c) In order to maintain the highest standards of professional practice the Ethics committee issue advice and guidance

d) The Training and Education subcommittee contributes to the evolving process of revalidation

e) The Association maintains a web site with information for members and the general public

2. The advancement of study, practice and research in Paediatric Surgery

a) For Consultants the Training and Education Committee? monitors promotes and initiates:

  • Continuing Professional Development for practicing Paediatric Surgeons
  • Continuing Medical Education related activities such as meetings and courses
  • Monitors the quality of these activities
  • Responds to the evolving CPD/CME requirements of Paediatric Surgeons

b) 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

c) The Research and Clinical Effectiveness Committee comprises three limbs – Research, Audit and Clinical Outcomes

Of these the Research Section

  • 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

The Audit Section

  • 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

The Clinical Outcomes Section

  • 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

d) The Trauma Committee

  • Is responsible for improving the quality of care delivered to injured children
  • Promotion of childhood accident prevention strategies
  • Audit and the development of management guidelines
  • Organisation of National training meetings

e) The Association is affiliated with the Journal of Paediatric Surgery and congress papers are published from the annual meeting

f) The Association supports scholarship, research and research fellowships

3. Links with sub-specialist Societies within Paediatric Surgery

The Association provides support for the activities of sub-specialist Societies

  • British Association of Paediatric Urologists (BAPU)
  • British Association of Paediatric Endoscopic surgeons (BAPES)
  • CCLG (Children’s Cancer & Leukemia) Surgical Working Group
  • BAPS International Affairs Committee
  • Experimental Research Club
  • Academic Research Group
  • History Club

4. Liaison with the Surgical Royal Colleges, the Professions allied to medicine, other relevant Professional bodies and Government

a) 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

b) Links with other surgical specialist associations through the Federation of Surgical Specialist Associations

c) Links with the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland

d) Links with the Children’s Surgical Forum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

e) 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)

f) Links with nursing through the Association of British Paediatric Nurses (ABPN)

g) Links with the BMA Paediatric and Surgical Subcommittees of Central Consultants & Specialists Committee

h) Contact with NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), and Government Agencies so that BAPS provides professional advice and influences policy

5. Fostering of professional relations with Paediatric Surgeons overseas

a) Representatives attend the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS)

b) Representatives attend the European Union of Paediatric Surgical Association (EUPSA)

c) Links with the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS)

d) Links with other Paediatric Surgical Societies and individuals worldwide

6. The proper and prudent management of the resources of BAPS

a) Income

This is generated primarily from

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

b) 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

c) 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