RCOG Women’s Network Terms of Reference
The RCOG Women’s Network has evolved to provide lay input to the College so that the College
receives an impartial lay perspective on whatever is under discussion/consideration/development.
The College recognises the benefits of seeking to engage with the public through the Women’s
Network. Similarly the Women’s Network recognises the valuable opportunity to proactively raise
issues of concern and interest to patients and the public with respect to Obstetrics and Gynaecology
services and reproductive health in the UK.
Objectives
1.
The Women’s Network, whether upon its own initiative or in response to a request to do so,
will:
 act as a critical friend of the College, providing a patient/public perspective to
support the work and strategy of the College
 identify and bring the views, interests and concerns of patients and the public
on any matter relating to the practice or study of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
with a view to informing and developing College policy, topics under debate and
statements
 work with the College to find solutions and strategies to improve women’s
health and the quality of Obstetrics and Gynaecology services
2.
The Women’s Network will work with the Patient Experience and Public Engagement
Facilitator and the Directorate of Quality and Knowledge to develop and deliver the Patient
Experience and Public Engagement Strategy
3.
The Women’s Network shall identify clear objectives for its work and prepare an annual
forward plan. The work plan will reflect the College’s strategic plan from a patient/public
perspective
Scope
1.
The Women’s Network will establish and maintain links with relevant patient representative
and women’s interest organisations
2.
The Women’s Network shall take a proactive interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology service
provision from a public/patient perspective.
Constitution and Constraints
Membership
The WN shall comprise:
a.
up to 14 lay members
b.
3 clinical members, one of whom will be a trainee member
c.
ex-officio members ie PEPE Facilitator, Executive Director Quality & Knowledge
The Women’s Network will have the power to appoint co-opted members and, in some cases, RCOG
Members and Fellows and other experts will be invited to attend meetings and working groups of
the Women’s Network:
 for specific expertise in relation to issues under discussion
 to provide specific skills and knowledge in relation to projects, working groups and panels of
the Women’s Network
 to retain and utilise the experience and specific expertise of members who have served a
full term of office, and in some cases a further three year term of office
The Women’s Network will also have the ability to convene and support a Women’s Voices Panel
drawn from the wider community. The Panel will provide a broader source of views and opinion on
issues under consideration and projects undertaken by the Network and the College.
Further to implementation of the College’s Patient Experience and Public Engagement Strategy, the
Women’s Network will aim to develop stronger geographical links across the United Kingdom. The
aim sets out a model whereby future Network membership and the Women’s Voices Panel may
reflect the coverage of regional Specialist Commissioning of the NHS in England. This could be
achieved by Women’s Network members taking geographical lead roles and the Network/PEPE
Facilitator providing support and development for women involved at a regional level.
Lay members are those who are not and never have been members of the College and are not
qualified to be registered as a medical practitioner.
Appointment of members & terms of office
Members are appointed for a term of three years in the first instance, normally following a public
advertisement and formal selection process overseen by the Chair of the Women’s Network. At the
end of that term members may serve a further three year term of office, renewable each year, with
the approval of the Chair and Finance and General Purposes Committee. Members who have served
the full three year term plus the maximum three year extension of the term of office may be
considered for co-option for specific tasks and expertise.
Former members may be co-opted and also considered for further full membership two years after
the end of their previous membership.
The Chair and Vice Chair(s) will hold a review with each member coming to the end of their first term
of office to discuss:
 whether they wish to extend their membership for an additional year, with further yearly
review up to a maximum of three years;
 how they feel they have contributed to the work of the Women’s Network;
 whether there are specific areas of work they wish to develop; and,
 identify objectives for potential extension of their term of office
Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair(s) and terms of office
The Chair of the Women’s Network will be appointed following a public advertisement and formal
selection process. Current members of the Network and Vice Chairs will be eligible to apply. The Vice
Chair(s) will be appointed following, in the first instance, internal applicants from the current
membership and co-opted members. If appointments are not made this way a public advertisement
and formal selection process will be undertaken. The process will be overseen by the Clinical Quality
Department. Applicants will meet the person specification and role descriptions for the posts.
The Chair and Vice Chair(s) are appointed for a period of three years. A review will be held in the
third year of the terms of office of the Chair and Vice Chair(s) to establish whether there should be
an initial one year extension to the term to ensure that:
 there is continuity of Women’s Network work and experience;
 there is a succession plan together with development opportunities for members with an
interest in future responsibilities as Chair or Vice Chair
Commitment and Attendance
Members are required to attend all formal meetings of the Women’s Network. In the case of illness
or other unavoidable issues members must send apologies before the meeting date.
If members fail to attend more than two consecutive meetings they will be contacted by the Chair to
discuss whether there are reasons why they cannot participate fully in the work of the Network.
Failure to attend three consecutive meetings without adequate explanation will result in dismissal of
members, in accordance with the policy agreed by the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Ways of working
 The Women’s Network has four formal meetings per year in March, June, September and
December at which work and policy is agreed and signed off. Members are expected to attend
formal meetings
 Throughout the year the work of the Network will continue by means of email and other
methods of communication, and small group working
 The Women’s Network will provide support and opportunities for members to develop
individual skills, experience and working methods
 Members will have a range of skills and expertise and there is an expectation that they will
demonstrate commitment by contributing to the work of the Network and the College
 Individual members will take a portfolio approach to the work of the Network by leading on:
o a specific topic or interest related to Obstetrics or Gynaecology or women’s health,
o an area of the College’s work such as external consultations, Guideline development or
Patient Information,
o a geographical area of the UK

Members will work by means of a range of activities, for example:
o acting as lay representatives on College committees, boards, working groups and in
RCOG links with other bodies
o being involved in other patient and public engagement activities as part of Women’s
Network or College projects
o contributing to projects and working groups of the Women’s Network
o providing views from a patient/lay perspective on external consultations
o providing patient and public perspectives to inform and develop College practice
through contributing to:

 RCOG Reports
 RCOG Guidelines
 Responses to consultation papers
 Information for the public
 Development of standards
 Research and audit projects
 Training and curriculum matters
 Standards development, clinical and other audits and management issues
The Women’s Network shall regularly review whether there is the right mix of skills, experience,
and development/work opportunities for all members.
Reporting and authority
 The RCOG Women’s Network reports to the Clinical Quality Board and the minutes of that Board
are presented to the RCOG Council
 Two members of the Women’s Network, the Chair and Vice Chair(s) attend meetings of the
Council with voting rights. The Vice Chairs will share the responsibility for attendance at Council
meetings until the end of their tenure of appointment
 The lead executive director within the College with responsibility and interest in the Women’s
Network is the Executive Director, Quality and Knowledge