Membership Matters, Volume 3 Issue 2
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Membership Matters Volume 3 | Issue 2 Summer 2013 Your membership magazine from the RCOG: stories from the specialty 2 Membership Matters | Volume 3 Issue 2 Contents From the President 3 College archives The RCOG andWertheim’s Procedure for Hysterectomy 15 Centre COG Achievers College news Dr Kamini Rao FRCOGWins Prestigious FIGO Award 4 Helicopters, Sheep, Gorillas and Boats at the Maternity Dr Geetha Nagasubramanian FRCOG MBE 4 Patient Safety Day 17 Joining the Quest for Sustainability: An Update from the Stories from the Specialty RCOG Green Group 20 The British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy: Endoscopic The Retired Fellows and Members Society 20 Skills and SimulationTraining 5 The RCOGTakes on aWorkplace Behaviours Advisor 21 UterineTransplantation in the UK: Approaching the First 2014 Invitation to Fellowship 21 HumanTrials 6 2014 Invitation for Nominations for Fellowship ad eundem/ Investment in Preterm Birth: Perils and Possibilities 7 honoris causa 21 NHS Change Day 8 Getting to Know the Honorary Officers: An Interview with Dr Paul Fogarty FRCOG, HonoraryTreasurer 23 International 2013 Committee Appointments 24 InternationalWomen’s Day: End Forced Marriages 9 In Memoriam 24 Fighting Maternal Mortality in Liberia 10 Education ImprovingTraining Improves Health Care: An Update from the Faculty Development Committee 12 Curriculum Changes and Alignment with a‘SingleVersion’ Illustration by Dr Naila Khan of the Curriculum: An Update from the Curriculum Committee 13 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 27 Sussex Place Regent’s Park London NW1 4RG Registered charity no. 213280 Tel +44 (0)20 77726200 Fax +44 (0)20 77723 0575 Web: www.rcog.org.uk Editor: Luke Stevens-Burt, Director, Membership Relations Assistant Editor: Rebecca Deegan, Administrator Resources Send all contributions and ideas to [email protected] All materials © 2013 RCOG, unless otherwise stated Typesetting and layout: Fish Books Ltd. From the Dr Tony Falconer President, Royal College of President Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ince the last edition of Membership Matters was clarification about the published, the extremely profound second report system, quality assur- by Robert Francis QC into the failings of a large ance of which will be hospital to provide humane and appropriate care addressed by the GMC in was released. This analysis has been a shocking the course of time. and serious reminder to all healthcare professionals of their The implementation of Sprofessional responsibilities to patients. Many institutions the Governance Review have responded and the Royal Colleges are consulting with will become apparent their members on the appropriate responses and implemen - when the new Board of tations required. Trustees Board assumes responsibility for the charitable Although the Francis Inquiry is focused principally on activities of the RCOG on 3 Monday June. From then, elderly and frail patients and not on the care provided in Council will be able to focus more on strategy and profes - maternity and gynaecological services, there are messages sional concerns. that resonate clearly for us: professionalism, putting the needs of patients first and the need for empathy and The following will sit on the Board of Trustees: compassion. These are all basic elements of a doctor’s duty The President (Chair) to their patients as highlighted in the GMC’s recently • updated guide Good Medical Practice . • The Senior Vice President Indeed, the Francis recommendations present us with the The Honorary Treasurer opportunity to focus on patient safety, team working, the • problem of undermining and the importance of the need Four selected lay Trustees following competitive for accurate and robust metrics. Successful implementation interviews: of all these components should improve the quality of health care for women. • Ms Naaz Coker The first of April or ‘April Fool’s Day’ had a particular Mr Roy Martin QC significance in England this year with the introduction of • the greatest structural change to the NHS since the • Ms Linda Nash inception of the service in 1948. The divergence of the NHS Professor Eric Thomas in the UK has been greatly highlighted by the implemen - • tation of the reforms of the Health and Social Care Act Two selected members following competitive interview: (2012). NHS England is now a reality and the commissioning • Dr David Farquharson FRCOG responsibilities are now devolved to the NHS Commis - Dr Daghni Rajasingam MRCOG sioning Board and the clinical commissioning groups. The • anxieties surrounding competitive tendering continue to The member or fellow elected from Council will be deter- pose a threat to some services but it is interesting how mined at the next meeting. varied and divergent the responses have been to this matters across different specialties within medicine. The The annual world congress in Liverpool will be on us in no profession does not speak with one voice, when it comes to time at all. The success of recent congresses has been a competition. The changes to the NHS in England are huge huge boost to the RCOG staff and in particular for those and will impact in all areas including education and working in the meetings department. Liverpool is a training. The profession and specialty is fortunate to have magnificent location and the combination of an outstand- Professor Wendy Reid as Medical Director of Health ing scientific programme, with social activities against a Education England. These changes are unique to England backdrop of music by The Beatles should satisfy most and magnify differences in the approach of the devolved delegates. I look forward to greeting many of you from nations. overseas and from the UK to this meeting. You will not be Revalidation started in December 2012 and, as I write this disappointed. piece, I am aware that nearly 3000 doctors have been Finally, I wish to congratulate Dr David Richmond, who through the process. Having gone through the procedure has been elected as President of the RCOG from 27 myself, I feel that I have significant insight into the poten- September 2013. David has been an inspirational Vice tial challenge necessary to comply with the requirements President for Clinical Quality and has all the personal successfully. I found the RCOG e-portfolio extremely helpful qualities and attributes to be an outstanding President. I but quickly became aware of the importance of keeping the am confident that the membership, both within and log up to date. The 360-degree feedback from patients and without the UK, will support him in his future drive to peers is instructive although I believe that the tools will improve health care for women. need more fine-tuning as the process develops. The RCOG helpdesk is up and running for those needing advice or Dr Tony Falconer, RCOG President 4 Centre COG Achievers Dr Kamini Rao FRCOG Wins Prestigious Dr Geetha Nagasubramanian FIGO Award FRCOG MBE Dr Kamini Rao, former President of the Federation of O&G Dr Geetha Subramanian has been working as a Community Societies in India and the Indian Society for Assisted Gynaecologist in the borough of Tower Hamlets since 1986, Reproduction , has been bestowed the prestigious FIGO and became a Consultant and Head of the Women and Award for Women Obstetricians/Gynecologists. Awarded Young People’s Service in 1995. She has made significant every three years since 1997, the FIGO award recognises changes to the way the service has been delivered in the women obstetricians and gynaecologists from around the areas of family planning, termination of unplanned preg- world who have made a special contribution , interna - nancy, female genital mutilation (FGM) and young people’s tionally or nationally , to promote the development of sexual health. With the support of a team of dedicated staff, science and scientific research in the field , and who, she has taken the initiative to introduce and establish throughout their career have promoted better health care services such as early medical abortion, provision of for women. religious and cultural male circumcision for babies from For Dr Rao , the award is an acknowledgement of her the local Muslim community, reversal of FGM and a specific work in the area of women’s sexual and reproductive rights team for reaching young people with the objectives of (WSRR) for which , as FIGO WSRR Committee Chairperson, reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted she has carried out extensive work with the aim of bringing infection through education and focused service provision. about changes in medical practice and standards to make Over the last two decades, through her dedication, enthu- them gender sensitive and ethical. siasm and zeal, Geetha has established THCASH as a leading and successful enterprise in the country. Dr Kamini Rao FRCOG Dr Geetha Nagasubramanian FRCOG MBE We encourage our Fellows and Members to inform us about their own or their peers ’ achievements, please send to [email protected] . 5 Centre COG The British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy: Endoscopic Skills and Simulation Training By Miss Mary Connor FRCOG, Honorary Secretary BSGE The British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) exists to improve standards, promote train- ing and encourage the exchange of information in minimal access surgery techniques for women with gynaecological problems. Originally founded in 1989 by a small group of consultant gynaecologists, the society has since grown to over 650 members. In 2000, the BSGE was granted charitable status. Learning how and when to use new technologies is vital to the development of endoscopic services. It enables both those for whom formal training may have ceased, and those who are currently undertaking a training programme, to learn not only how to use new devices, but also their appropriate use. Providing and promoting such training is important and it is increasingly clear that simulation training is vital to the development of skills. The necessary psychomotor skills are a result of practice – not unlike learning to ride a bike or swim! The opportunity to repeatedly practice specific move- ments is required and simulators allow this to be undertaken away from the pressures of providing a clinical service.