Non-Surgical Centres Committee and Changes to BCIS Council

Dear Member,

The Non-Surgical Centres Committee was established by BCIS Council in 2012 as a temporary working group with a remit to address the specific issues facing BCIS members working in centres without on-site cardiac surgery. In particular, the committee aimed to increase the representation of NSC members within BCIS, including in educational activities, at BCIS meetings including the annual Advanced Cardiovascular Intervention conference, and in both BCIS Council and the BCIS Sub-group Committees. At the recent ACI 2016 conference the Non-Surgical Centres Committee considered its future role and this was subsequently discussed at the Council meeting later the same day. All present agreed that major progress had been made since the inception of the NSC committee. There has been widespread representation of NSC members amongst the faculty of BCIS meetings including ACI, while in the last 2 years, 2 of the 4 live case sites have been centres without on-site cardiac surgery. NSC members are and will be represented throughout the various BCIS sub-groups that are responsible for the real decision-making processes within BCIS. There was also a belief that the distinction between centres with and without on-site cardiac surgery is probably irrelevant in the context of most of contemporary interventional cardiology and that the existence of a Non-Surgical Centres Committee could perpetuate a damaging distinction. Consequently, following the NSC and Council meetings at ACI 2016, it was agreed that the NSC would not continue in its current form. Instead we will seek to represent the needs of all BCIS members though the existing structure of BCIS Council and the BCIS Sub-groups. All of the existing members of the NSC committee have been added to BCIS Sub-groups so that they can continue to make valuable contributions to the workings of the society.   BCIS is very grateful for the contribution that Dr Sen Devadathan and the NSC group have made. Sen’s departure from BCIS Council has created an additional vacancy for an Ordinary Member of Council and I am delighted to announce that, in accordance with the Rules of the Society and following the recent election, Dr David Smith (Swansea) has been elected to the position of Ordinary Council Member joining Professor Philip MacCarthy and Dr Tim Wells. Dave will join Council with immediate effect. I am sure you will join me in congratulating him and in wishing him a successful term on Council.   I am also pleased to announce that Dr Phillip Freeman (Aalborg/Cardiff) has been elected as the new Communications Lead for BCIS. Phil will be taking over from Mike Norell from March 1st 2016. Phil’s major focus will be the redevelopment and expansion of the BCIS website which we hope will become a major tool for all BCIS members. As part of this process Phil will be developing a small group of members with relevant expertise to assist in this major project. BCIS is fully committed to ensuring that all members, whether they are Allied Health Professionals, Trainee Doctors, or Consultants working in any institution, are represented by and within the Society. Members wishing to take part in any of the workings of the Society, including any of the Sub-groups, should contact BCIS directly.

With kind regards,

Dan Blackman 
BCIS Honorary Secretary

BCIS Council Election 2015 – BCIS President Result

Dear BCIS Member

After a very closely run election between 2 exceptionally talented candidates, I am delighted to announce that Adrian Banning has been elected as the next BCIS President. Adrian will take over formally after ACI in January 2016. I am sure you will join me in congratulating him, and also commiserations to Nick Curzen.

Best wishes,

Professor Simon Redwood

President, BCIS (2012 – 2016)