ROYAL COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGISTS BREAST GROUP

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Southport Theatre and Floral Hall Complex 4th November 2002

1.         Apologies

The meeting was attended by approximately 84 delegates.   Apologies received from Professor Stuart Field.

2.         Minutes of Last Meeting

These were accepted as a true record.

3.         Matters Arising

a)          Dr Chris Flowers was due to give a presentation on the website on Tuesday 5th November 2002.   Members were encouraged to visit the site and post questions, comments and other articles on the site.   Dr Flowers was thanked for all the hard work he has put into this.  The website is proving very popular with a large number of 'hits'.    

b)          Critical Incidents - The idea of a Critical Incident/Potential Adverse Event anonymised reporting mechanism to a central breast group database was discussed.     This was welcomed and approved by a show of hands.  Radiologists, both screening and symptomatic, will be encouraged to submit data either via a generic form which may be downloaded via the website, or obtained from Dr Barter, or sending in their own critical incident form anonymised.  The Executive will keep a database, and there will be liaison with the National Patient Safety Agency was also welcomed.   Feedback will be to both screening and symptomatic units.

4.         Constitution

No new matters to report.

5.         Honorary Membership

Professor Peter Dean, Professor Edward Azavedo and Professor Laszlo Tabar were proposed as Honorary Members and accepted by the group. 

6.         Discount for Annual Scientific Meeting

It was noted that SpRs are now eligible for a discounted fee for the Annual Scientific Meeting.

7.         Breast Group Bursary

a)       Dr Melanie Chapman of Edinburgh is this year's recipient of the Breast Group Bursary and will visit Professor Edward Azavedo.  Dr Barter reminded the group that the Bursary was available and encouraged members to apply.

b)          Masterclass  -  Professor Ingvar Andersson has been invited to give Masterclasses as discussed at last year's Annual meeting.  Three sites have been identified, Bristol, Leeds and London, and it is hoped that Radiology trainees will be invited from surrounding areas to attend the Masterclasses.  If Professor Anderson is unable to come, then Professor Daniel Kopans will be approached.

8.         Pump Priming Grants

There were no applications for the Pump Priming Grant last year, or indeed the year before.  The group was reminded that this sum of money is available and further details are sent out via the Royal College of Radiologists and in the Breast Group mailing pack.

9.         Guidelines and Protocols

The RCR publication Guidance on Screening and Symptomatic Breast Imaging has been updated by Dr Peter Britton and the revised version is proceeding through various College committees prior to being published.    MBUR5 is in the final editorial stage and Dr Given-Wilson and her committee have significantly updated the breast content in this.  

10.      Treasurer's Report

The Treasurer's report was given and accepted.  There is a very healthy balance of funds.

11.      Meeting 2003

This will be held in Cardiff.   The Executive will meet in January to discuss the programme.  Future venues were discussed with the group.   Ease of public transport access was deemed to be important.  An evaluation questionnaire is to be sent out to all members canvassing their opinions as to sites and content of future breast group meetings.

12.      Officers

The results of the ballot for Treasurer were given. Dr Simon Daniell has been elected on ballot.  The post of Vice Chair and Secretary will become vacant in 2003.   Dr Sue Barter is eligible to stand for a further term of office as Secretary.

13.      Disclosure of Audit

A brief overview was given by Dr Given-Wilson.  This will be discussed in greater detail tomorrow.     Three review groups have been set up, Causation, Radiological Review and Pyschology Groups.  The Causation group has failed to meet so far and there seems to be loss of drive from central government to push this on rapidly.   The Radiological Review group has agreed a simple classification which will be discussed tomorrow.    Psychological group also included three Radiologists who have recommended a simple leaflet for women with the diagnosis of malignancy which will not only contain essential information regarding the diagnosis and support, but will also offer a review of previous screening mammograms if the patient has had them.

14.      Occupational Standards

The 4 pilot sites have now been signed off, and occupational standards have been produced for film reading, film interpretation, breast ultrasound and x-ray-guided proceedures.  There has been no real progress on pay scales.    Vigorous discussion then took place on the lack of involvement of pilot sites in the roll out of the standards.      It was proposed that the Executive should write to Professor Mike Richards, Valerie Beral (Chairman of Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer screening) and Anne Gregor (Scotland) expressing concern about the lack of progress on formalised pay and pointing out that the expansion of the Breast Screening Programme depends on recruitment and retention of staff. Some members of the audience were using the reporting allowance as an interim measure.    It was suggested the Breast Group could survey screening centres to get an idea on how staff are being remunerated for the extended role.

15.      PERFORMS

Participation in PERFORMS now attracts 2 CME points. 

16.      Any Other Business

a)       Justification Document  -  Ken Young has produced a Justification Document regarding repeat screening for screening centres.    It is justified to re-screen women presenting for screening who have not had a previous NHSBSP or other screening mammogram within the preceding 6 months.

b)      Patient Representation  -  Caroline Boggis had written to Ros Given-Wilson suggesting we should give some thought to patient representation at the Annual Scientific Meeting and Executive.    The Executive felt that since the Executive Committee meetings were largely concerned with planning the Annual Scientific Meeting it was not necessary to have a patient representative there.   Furthermore Simon Daniell is on the Patient Liaison Advisory Group of the RCR providing a good link to patient interests.       A show of hands confirmed by a very large majority that it was not felt appropriate to have patient-focused sessions at the Scientific Meeting.   

c)      'Dr Foster'  -  concerns were expressed of how 'Dr Foster' got their data on screening units and then mis-managed it statistically.   Dr Wallis pointed out that all the data was in the public domain although it was mis-presented.   The general feeling of those present was that we should not cooperate with 'Dr Foster'.

d)      EUSOBI  -  Matthew Wallis discussed the proposals for a common European Training Curriculum and Examination in Radiology.  The French have taken our Guidelines on Screening and Symptomatic Imaging and Training Curriculum with the College's permission.    

The Government are now proposing a 3 year training to CCST.   The Academy of Royal Colleges as vetoed this and was rebutted by Mr Milburn

Will Teh raised concerns about recruitment with the proposed Accelerated Training programme and loss of sub-speciality training in Radiology.    Peter Britton will express our concerns to Professor Dixon.

e)     Hilary Dobson was thanked and presented with a bouquet.

The meeting was closed at 6.25 pm.

17.      Date of Next Meeting

Monday 3rd November 2003 at Cardiff