Call for nominations: Election to the Scottish Board

Published: 03/11/2020

Nominations are now open for positions on the Scottish Board of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Meeting three times a year in Edinburgh (or virtually), the Board provides an important link between the College and RCoA Fellows and Members based in Scotland. 

If you would like to discuss the opportunities in more detail, please get in touch with the current chair Dr Daphne Varveris or Dr Sarah Ramsay, who was Chair until October 2020. Current trainee representative Dr Alastair Hurry is also happy to provide more insight into the trainee vacancy for anyone interested.

You’ll be joining in a team with elected, lay and co-opted members to:

  • help RCoA remain relevant, connected and effective in Scotland
  • improve the provision of safe, high quality care in Scotland
  • contribute to the delivery of high quality training in Scotland
  • plan a sustainable and engaged workforce by engaging with the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates and NHS Education Scotland 
  • promote the careers of Scottish members and healthcare teams, including the development of the role of the Anaesthesia Associate
  • help with the delivery of educational events 
  • support academic anaesthesia
  • promote the RCoA perioperative care initiative in Scotland and collaborate with other specialties through involvement in the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties and the Scottish Access Collaborative
  • build relationships with devolved structures including the CMO and NHS Education Scotland through the Scottish Deanery structure and NES Specialty Training Board
  • improve communication and engagement with College members and fellows in Scotland.

Terms of office begin in February 2021 and there are the following vacancies:

Three consultant vacancies

Consultant members of the Board are elected for a term of three years and are eligible to serve for one further term of three years with the mutual agreement of the elected member and the Board Chair.  

Those eligible to stand are Fellows of the College (either by examination or ad eundem) working in Scotland who are on the specialist register of the GMC.

Please note that eligibility is based on the main address that is registered with the College. 

One SAS vacancy

There is one SAS member of the Board who is elected for a term of three years and is eligible to serve for one further term of three years with the mutual agreement of the elected member and the Board Chair.

Those eligible to stand are Fellows and Members of the College who are Staff or Associate Specialists working in Scotland. Please note that eligibility is based on the main address that is registered with the College. 

One Trainee vacancy

There is one Trainee member of the Board who is elected for a single term of up to three years. The elected Specialty Trainee will normally be expected to resign within one year of appointment as a consultant. 

Timetable and how to stand for election

  • 3 November 2020: Nominations open
  • 2 December 2020: Nominations close at 12 noon
  • 14 December 2020: Ballot begins. All those eligible to vote will be invited to do so by email. 
  • 11 January 2021: Close of ballot. Electronic voting will be closed at 5pm. The election results will be declared via the College website as soon as possible. The result will also be published in the College Bulletin.

All candidates are requested to hold the dates of the 2021 Scottish Board meetings in their diaries. 

  • Tuesday 2 Feb 2021 – online meeting, provisionally 10:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 1 June 2021 – format TBC, start time provisionally 10:00
  • Tuesday 5 October 2021 - format TBC, start time provisionally 10:00