Committees
Council
Council is the Society's governing body, and is responsible for the administration of the Society. It holds four meetings a year at which strategic, operational and financial matters of the Society are discussed, and decisions taken about the direction of the Society. The Council is responsible for the work of its sub-committees, which advise the Council on issues within their remit.
Audit and Quality Improvement Committee
Chairman:Mr David Mitchell
The Audit and Quality Improvement Committee is established for the purpose of developing policies and advising Council on issues relating to vascular audit. The Committee's primary responsibility is the development and maintenance of the Society's National Vascular Database.
Current issues on which the Committee is involved include:
- Work with the Health Foundation on a quality improvement project to reduce the mortality associated with elective aortic aneurysm surgery to 3.5% by 2013
- The UK carotid intervention audit, in association with the Clinical Effectiveness Unit of the Royal College of Physicians, on improving the care for patients requiring intervention following a stroke or TIA
- An audit of acute kidney injury following aortic aneurysm surgery (both open and EVAR) funded by the Department of Health
- Collection of data through the NVD for the NHS Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme which will provide data on patient care to feedback to quality assure the Programme.
Education Committee
Chairman:Professor Jonathan Beard
The Education Committee advises Council on issues and developments relating to:
- The vascular training curriculum
- The provision of vascular training and examinations
- Educational policies and initiatives
The Committee also develops vascular training courses, both in collaboration with the Royal Colleges through the offices of the Vascular Tutor and independently in the name of the Society, and co-ordinates the Educational Masterclass held at the Society's AGM.
The Committee is currently involved in developing e-learning projects and procedure based assessments.
Research Committee
Chairman:Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam
The Research Committee will advise Council on issues, developments and membership surveys relating to vascular research. It will provide research strategy direction to the Council, and, by adopting a 'horizon scanning' approach, ensure the Society keeps pace with progress in vascular research. The Committee will identify research initiatives and advise Council on ways to implement these. It will work closely with the Circulation Foundation in matters relating to grants currently awarded by the Society, and the funding of new grants initiated and implemented by the committee.
Professional Standards Committee
Chairman:Professor M J Gough
The Professional Standards Committee will advise Council on issues and developments relating to clinical governance, risk management, professional standards and fitness to practice on behalf of the membership. The Committee:
- advises Council on the response of the Society to specific medico-legal cases or complaints against members, including responses to the media and the police
- liaise with the Audit Committee over governance issues arising from the National Vascular Database and any such outside bodies as also deal with professional standards, including the Royal Colleges and the General Medical Council
- obtain information about vascular medico-legal cases, complaints and suspensions from medical defence societies, litigation authorities and other relevant bodies and will provide information and support on these matters to the membership through publications and symposia with advice on risk management.
Vascular Advisory Committee
The Vascular Advisory Committee is established for the purpose of advising Council on issues relating to vascular training, service development and service delivery on a geographical basis. Vascular Advisors are elected by Members in their region and serve for a period of five years. The Vascular Advisory Committee meets twice a year, with Council. Each Vascular Advisor provides a report to the VAC on training, service and manpower issues in their region.
View members of the Vascular Advisory Committee
Circulation Foundation Committee
Chairman:Mr Andrew May
The Circulation Foundation Committee is established for the purpose of raising funds towards the aims of th e Circulation Foundation, which are to:
- Raise awareness of the risks of vascular disease;
- Reduce the risks by funding education programmes and research projects;
- Research new treatments for vascular diseases; and
- Promote healthy lifestyles to actively prevent vascular disease.
Honorary Officers
Available on the 
Honorary appointments list
