BSUG: Chair's newsletter, December 2024

18th December 2024

The recent Annual Scientific Update meeting at the RCOG was a huge success with an excellent programme over two days and I had the lovely opportunity to meet and catch up with several friends and colleagues. The AGM was also well attended. As the end of the year approaches it seems a good time for reflection. It has been a busy but very productive year and I thought it would be useful to give you some updates on the work of BSUG. Previously, we mentioned the sad passing of the founders of BSUG, Professor Stuart Stanton and Professor Linda Cardozo and their presence will be sadly missed for a long time to come. BSUG Exec honoured their memories at the recent ASU with a debate and lecture in their names. It was a great time to connect with BSUG colleagues.

As you all know, BSUG is a charity that exists to encourage the study and management of female pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, POP and faecal incontinence. BSUG is grateful for the support of individuals who contribute to the success of BSUG by sitting on Committees and participating in BSUG work. For the Society to thrive it relies on your help. Please look out for future vacancies on the Committees. Just to remind you if you represent BSUG on other external Committees or if you have recently stepped down, please let us know.

Congratulations to the winners of the BSUG grants for 2024: Ruth Athey, Katie Dalby and Bernadette Lemmon. BSUG will be awarding grants for 2025. Congratulations to the winners of the ARM 2024: Best Abstract Geetika Shah, Best Poster Wesam Hammouri and Best Oral Angie Rantell.

BSUG recently launched a series of webinars, the first webinar was a huge success and very well attended, members learnt more about the database, accreditation and research. If you have ideas for topics for future webinars please let us know.

Thanks to all of you who have commented on the upgraded website. If you have stories or ideas for content for the website please let us know.

New accreditation paperwork has been developed to make the process more streamlined - we hope you have found this useful. For guidance on accreditation or reaccreditation please contact Amanda King aking@rcog.org.uk who will pass your details on to the Chair of the Governance Committee and the team.

The BSUG constitution was reviewed and a resolution adopted at the AGM. Thank you for your comments. The amendments were made to ensure good governance for the Charity.

BSUG is continuing to work with specialists on its GDPR compliance for BSUG Audit Database. A reminder that retention of patient-identifiable information will be kept for a period of 15 years from the date of the last operation. Of this 10 years is the defined audit period and the additional five years is in line with the NHS code and this function will take effect from 1st March 2025.

The Pelvic Floor Registry is being piloted by a few BSUG members and this will inform changes which will be incorporated before it goes live and we will keep you informed.

BSUG’s remit is primarily education and to that end it supports many initiatives, Scientific Impact Papers (SIP) exist to fill a gap where an evidence base exists but is limited, uncertain or conflicted in nature. SIPs are concise, forward thinking reviews on emerging or controversial scientific issues of relevance to obstetrics and gynaecology. If you are interested in suggesting topics for SIPs as per the recent communication please contact LDean-Osgood@rcog.org.uk

BSUG works hard in the national arena and has engaged as stakeholders on the following consultations. We often ask BSUG members to act as experts on these consultations. If you have the time and expertise please do get involved.

NICE appraisal invitation - consultees: Overactive bladder (symptoms) – vibegron
NICE: Interventional Procedures: New Guidance in development: IP2014 Electrically stimulated intravesical therapy for Interstitial Cystitis
NICE Urinary Tract Infection (recurrent): antimicrobial prescribing
NICE Health Tech Programme: Robot-assisted surgery for soft-tissue procedures early value assessment
NICE Scoping Workshop - Robot-assisted surgery for soft-tissue procedures Scoping workshop
NICE Health Tech Programme Late-Stage Assessment: Intermittent urethral catheters for long-term urinary management in adults Final Protocol

BSUG works collaboratively with the RCOG and the new RCOG training curriculum went live from August 2024. BSUG has had extensive input into the urogynaecology SITM and subspecialty training curriculum. If anyone has any queries about the new curriculum please do get in touch via Amanda aking@rcog.org.uk - BSUG also continues to be represented on the RCOG Specialist Societies Liaison Group.

Urogynaecology has featured in the news as waiting lists have dominated the headlines this year. Please see the report UK gynaecology waits https://bsug.org.uk/news-details/new-rcog-report-reveals-devastating-impact-of-uk-gynaecology-care-crisis-on-women-and-nhs-staff/127/0/0

BSUG works hard for its members both medical and non-medical to support the sub specialty. Membership of BSUG is growing across the board, do tell us what you want from your Society. BSUG has opened its membership to include non-medical healthcare professionals working in pelvic health. We now currently have over 20 AHP members. Please encourage your specialist nurses and physiotherapy colleagues to join, as part of their membership they get access to the Associates Audit Database. BSUG has a Sustainability and Robotics Special Interest Groups, these groups continue to grow, please get involved.

The Associate Committee ran a successful Associates day in Manchester in the summer. Look out for next year’s day and encourage your trainees to attend.

BSUG is supporting the NHSE Perinatal Pelvic Health programme and this is a good way to promote the roles of AHPs and their specialism in pelvic floor health. BSUG will champion this and an event is planned for 18th December.

Save the dates for next year…
BSUG ASU 2025 20th and 21st November 2025
ARM and AGM 2025 Friday 21st November 2025

Finally, we wish you all a very happy and relaxing holiday season with your family and loved ones and wish you all the very best for the new year to come.

Thank you for your support of BSUG on behalf of the BSUG Exec Team.

Kind regards

Ashish
Mr Ashish Pradhan, Chair, BSUG