Highlights
SCTS ANNUAL MEETING 2010
ON LINE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Please click here to take you to the online form. Early bird rates apply until 1st February 2010. For any enquiries about the annual meeting please email Isabelle Ferner at sctsadmin@scts.org or ring on +44 (0)20 7869 6893.
Heart Research UK Fund Raising Events 2010
Please click on the links below to find out further details about the Three Peaks Challenge and other fund raising events being organised by Heart Research UK in 2010.
Heart Research Three Peaks Challenge Poster
Heart Research Three Peaks Challenge Application Form
Other Fund Raising events
SAC Vacancies for 2010
There are a number of vacancies for the Specialty Advisory Committees which deal with all matters relating to surgical training in the UK and Ireland. Please click here to find out further information about the SAC and what vacancies are currently available.
New SCTS Data Set
The new SCTS dataset (Version 4.1) released on November 1st 2009 and coming into effect from April 1st 2010 has been amended (see below 4.1.1). The current version (3.8) will remain in use until this date. Software suppliers have been involved in this process and have been asked to ensure their products are compatible by April 1st 2010. To ensure all parties only use valid dataset definitions it will only be distributed by SCTS and CCAD from their respective websites.
Data set Covering letter
SCTS dataset (Version 4.1.1)
Sixth National Adult Cardiac Database Report
The release of the latest Blue Book has sparked widespread media coverage. This has reflected cardiothoracic surgery in Great Britain & Ireland in a very positive light. The following links direct you to most of this coverage.
The Sixth National Adult Cardiac Database Report 2008 (Blue Book) has now been published and Society members can download a pdf from the members only page of this website.
Good Perfusion Guide
Please click on the link here to download the published Good Perfusion Guide.
SCTSLTD.CO.UK is Live
Our new website, www.sctsltd.co.uk is now live and has been designed to address issues of professional practice which are not covered by our existing website, to foster closer relationships with our valued commercial sponsors and to enable debate and discussion through website fora for the different groups within the speciality.
An additional service is the cardiothoracic job centre, which is the only employment portal focussed on cardiothoracic surgery and will operate exclusively as a web-based service.
If you have any questions regarding the new website, would like to place a job advert or include an article, please contact Isabelle Ferner on 020 7869 6893 or sctsadmin@scts.org
BCIS TAVI
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging alternative therapy for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at high risk from conventional surgical aortic valve replacement. A number of programmes exist within the United Kingdom and Ireland and many more units are likely to embark upon a programme in the near future. A working party was set-up by the European Society of Cardiology and European Associate of Cardiothoracic Surgery to look at the current status of TAVI and to produce a paper of recommendations regarding the current status of this technology, the requirements for establishing such a programme and the dissemination of this technology. The link below will take you to this document and I think it is essential reading for those individuals or units with active programmes or those planning to establish programmes in the near future as well as being of general interest (Vahanian et al. Eur J Cardiothor Surg. 2008 Jul; 34(1): 1-8).
A joint SCTS/BCIS group has also produced a recommended dataset for collection in patients undergoing TAVI and also a joint position statement (with BCIS) in relation to TAVI. This can also be found by following this link.
CARE QUALITY COMMISSION (CQC) SCTS PUBLIC PORTAL UPDATED
Please click on the link below to take you to the CQC website which is currently being updated.
Click here to go to Public Portal
The Impact of the European Work Time Directive On the Delivery of Cardiothoracic Services
Please click here to download the letter sent to the Chief Executives of all cardiothoracic units about the above.
Good Surgical Practice
Please click on the link here to take you to a pdf version of Good Surgical Practice 2008.
SCTS Data Document
The SCTS Data Document and Calculators are now available to download from the Members Only Section. Please contact Isabelle Ferner at sctsadmin@scts.org shoudl you require your CTSNet id.
NEW WAYS OF WORKING
Please click here to open the relevant document regarding staffing the cardiothoracic unit. Please send any comments regarding this document to Isabelle Ferner at sctsadmin@scts.org
MEDICO-LEGAL EXPERT WITNESSES
Please click on the link below for a list of individuals willing to undertake medico-legal work. Please note that the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland does not endorse any of the information which has been provided voluntarily by the individuals themselves.
Expert Witnesses download (pdf)
Expert Witness download (Excel)
Please download a covering letter and form to complete should you be interested in putting yourself forward for medico-legal work
Covering letter
Medico-legal proforma
Letters from the various defense organisations and the GMC regarding their selection of expert witnesses can be found by clicking on the links below:
GMC
MDDUS
MDU
MPS
WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER OF SCTS?
Please view the benefits of membership.
PUBLIC PORTAL
The data quality visits that are mentioned in the public portal can be downloaded here:Barts and the London NHS Trust
Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
James Cook University Hospital
Leeds General Infirmary
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
North General Hospital, Sheffield
See Improving Quality for suggested Best Practice in Data Validation