Paediatricians with Expertise in Cardiology

The Paediatricians with Expertise in Cardiology Special Interest Group (PECSIG) was formally approved by the RCPCH in April 2008. The Special Interest Group is an autonomous body closely associated with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA).

Aims

1. To improve the care for children with any cardiological conditions and their family.

2. To encourage the development and implementation of managed clinical networks in paediatric cardiology in UK.

3. To enhance the training and working practices of all paediatricians working with children with heart conditions, and their families.

4. To encourage greater collaboration with other disciplines, agencies and professions involved in the care of children with heart conditions, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA), British Association for Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) and Royal College of Physicians through their Specialty Advisory Committee (RPCSAC).

Meetings

1. The group organises annual general meeting in the Joint BCCA/PECSIG meeting in autumn and also in the Annual PECSIG conference in summer.

2. A scientific conference is held in autumn and has been jointly hosted along with BCCA/PECSIG annual conference. The meeting regularly attracts around 300 attendees due to the quality of the stimulating and informative education offered, and will be relevant to Medical Staff as other Healthcare Professionals involved in Cardiology.

3. PECSIG team hosts an Annual Summer conference and also hosts a Paediatric Cardiology session in the RCPCH Annual conference in Spring.

Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee shall have at least five members, including a Convenor (Chair), Secretary, Educational Convener, Treasurer and BCCA Representative.

2. The Convenor (Chair) will be elected by the Special Interest Group members.

3. Other members shall be co-opted as necessary for specific roles by the committee. Co-opted members may be appointed ad hoc by the Convenor, but the appointment will be ratified by the committee at the next committee meeting.

4. The BCCA representative will be nominated by the BCCA.

5. Only subscribing members of the Special Interest Group are eligible to vote or serve on the committee.

6. The term of election of both officers and committee members will be three years. Both the officers and committee members may be re-elected but the maximum term of membership (without a break) shall usually be six years.