NHS TAYSIDE AREA SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CONSTITUTION1. TAYSIDE AREA SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
2. FUNCTION
The function of the Committee is to advise Tayside NHS Board (the Board), directly or via the Area Clinical Forum, on the provision of Scientific services, either at the Board's request, or on its own initiative and insodoing reflect the views of the professions locally.
The functions shall include:
2.1 Being involved in the planning process, and influencing strategy.
2.2 In appropriate circumstances, to lead strategy development, rather than to just respond.
2.3 To make recommendations to the Area Clinical Forum at the earliest stage on any strategies that are forthcoming.
2.4 To provide advice proactively and reactively.
2.5 To share information with the professions represented, and Heads of Departments, and assure best patient care and clinical governance.
2.6 To provide the NHS Board with a scientific perspective on the development of the Local Health Plan and the NHS Boards strategic objectives.
2.7 To share best practice among the different professions and actively promote multi-disciplinary working.
3. MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership of the Committee will comprise of one or more members of each profession, who shall be elected by their professional peers:
Clinical Scientists Physicists, Medical Physics
Engineers, TORTC
Clinical Scientists, Labs
Biomedical Scientists Labs
Medical Technical Officers Medical Physics
Audiology
ECG
EEG
Dental School
TORTC
Neuro
Labs
- Membership will be open to all scientists and medical technical officers working in Tayside, who fulfil the competencies procedure (see appendix 1) and will be by election.
- Each member of the Committee will have an alternate from the same professional group who will attend meetings, and may vote, in the absence of the main member.
- The main member should advise the alternate of progress, and of availability for meetings.
- Persons other than members or alternates may be invited to attend for discussion of specific items, but will not have the right to vote. Notwithstanding this, members of the individual professions may attend for the purpose of professional development.
4. NOMINATIONS
- Nominations for membership of the Committee will be accepted from all members of the professions in Tayside. Members of the professions will be responsible for, and administer, the election process.
5. FILLING OF CASUAL VACANCIES
- When a vacancy occurs the nomination procedure will be invoked and the Committee shall seek to obtain a replacement member from the same professional group, for the remainder of the term of office of the departing member only.
6. TERM OF OFFICE
- Members will be appointed for a term of office of two years and will be eligible for re-election for one further consecutive term.
- Half of the Committee shall retire at each election.
7. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS
The Committee may recommend removal of members to the Board for the undernoted reasons:
a) Failure to attend three consecutive meetings
b) Failure to attend two-thirds of the meetings held in any one year
c) The member no longer represents the function under which he/she was appointed
8. OFFICE BEARERS
- The Committee shall, at the April meeting every alternate year, appoint a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. Both will be eligible for re-election for a maximum period of a further two years.
- Where a member is appointed Chair of the Committee or Area Clinical Forum, that term of office will take preference over the tenure of office of the original appointment.
- Appointment to the membership of the Area Clinical Forum will be the Chairman and vice-Chairman.
9. SECRETARIAL SUPPORT
- Tayside NHS Board will provide secretarial services, together with accommodation for meetings, if required.
10. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
10.1 The Committee shall hold meetings at a frequency to coincide with meetings of the Area Clinical Forum.
10.2 Meetings shall be conducted by the Chairman, or in his/her absence, by the Vice-Chairman. If neither is present at the appointed time of the meeting, the members present shall elect a Chairman for the duration of the meeting.
10.3 A quorum shall consist of four elected and voting members.
10.4 In the event of a vote being taken, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote, in addition to his/her deliberative vote.
10.5 The Committee may invite a person or persons with particular knowledge or experience, to assist with Committee business.
Such person(s) shall attend solely for that business, and shall have no voting rights.
10.6 The Secretary, in conjunction with the Chairperson, shall prepare an Agenda and shall circulate it to members at least five working days before the date of a meeting.
10.7 Following a meeting of the Committee, the Secretary will prepare a Minute, which will be circulated to members, and submitted to the next meeting for approval. Thereafter a copy will be sent to the Area Clinical Forum, and circulated, as appropriate.
10.8 An Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee will require to be called within 21 days upon receipt of a written request by at least three members.
11. FINANCE OF THE COMMITTEE
- Reasonable expenses shall be paid by the Board.
12. WORKING GROUPS
- The Committee may, from time to time, appoint ad hoc working groups, the composition of which will be determined by the nature of the issue to be considered.
13. APPROVAL AND ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
13.1 The Constitution, and any amendments, are subject to the approval of Tayside NHS Board.
13.2 Any proposed alteration to this Constitution should normally be tabled at a quorate meeting of the Committee.
The text of any alteration will be circulated to all members of the Committee, with the Minute of the meeting, and the proposal shall be voted upon at the next quorate meeting of the Committee.
13.3 Any such proposed change shall be adopted, if approved, by a two-thirds majority of the voting members who vote at this second quorate meeting.
13.4 Where an alteration to the Constitution is limited to changes of names or titles, as a consequence of changes in NHS organisational structures and/or titles, such a proposal may be tabled and adopted by a unanimous vote of the voting members present at the meeting where the amendment is tabled. If the vote is not unanimous, then the procedure stated in 13.2 and 13.3 shall be followed.
14 . COMMENCEMENT
This Constitution shall be valid from immediate effect.
Tayside NHS Board
King's Cross
September 2003
Amended 18 January 2007