BSG has over four thousand members drawn from the ranks of physicians, surgeons, pathologists, scientists, nurses, dietitians, and others interested in the field.
Founded in 1937 it has grown from a club to be a major force in British medicine, with representation within the British Royal Colleges and consequently the Department of Health and Government.
About the British Society of Gastroenterology
The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) is a professional organisation dedicated to advancing the study and practice of gastroenterology and hepatology. Founded in 1937, the BSG represents a diverse range of professionals including physicians, surgeons, pathologists, scientists, nurses, and dietitians who work in digestive health. The society develops evidence-based guidelines to support high-quality patient care across a range of gastrointestinal conditions and promotes research in gastroenterology and hepatology. The BSG co-owns four journals: Gut, Frontline Gastroenterology, BMJ Open Gastroenterology, and Gut Science, and provides continuing professional development through an annual scientific conference, and other events, webinars, and online resources. The BSG also works closely with training bodies to shape the UK gastroenterology training curriculum, and collaborates with societies and other groups internationally.
While the Society exists for the promotion of the discipline it is not itself able to provide medical advice or to recommend individual practitioners. Prospective patients are advised to consult their own medical advisers for medical advice.
Governance
The BSG is governed through three interconnected bodies: the Board of Trustees, Council and Executive Committee. Each has a distinct role in ensuring the Society is well governed, strategically focused and responsive to its members. Together, supported by the BSG staff team, they ensure that the Society is accountable, professionally representative and able to deliver its charitable and strategic objectives.
The Board of Trustees is the BSG’s governing body and has ultimate legal responsibility for the charity.
The BSG Council is the Society’s principal representative and professional forum.
The Executive Committee provides senior leadership for the delivery of the BSG’s strategy and activities, working closely with the Chief Executive and BSG staff team
Positions within BSG committees are filled through an election, or for senior officer posts, through competitive interviews. Learn more about the governance, strategy and structure of the BSG through the links below.
The history of the BSG
The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) was founded in 1937 by Sir Arthur Hurst as a Gastroenterological Club with just 36 members. Sir Arthur Hurst became the first President. At that time, its objectives were described as the advancement of gastroenterology and promotion of friendship amongst those who have special interest in the disorders of the alimentary tract. In 1938, T L Hardy was elected Secretary and it is to him that a greater part of the success of the club is due.
The organisation grew steadily and 2 years later it numbered 100 members. In 1949, it was renamed the British Society of Gastroenterology. From the beginning, it was involved with other international societies, but it wasn't until 1952 after the Second World War that the proposed international meeting among these societies became a reality. In 1956, it acted as host at the fifth meeting of the Association of the National European and Mediterranean Societies of Gastro-Enterology, which was attended by over 800 visitors and delegates from around the world.
In 1948, a proposal was put forward to establish a British Journal of Gastroenterology which published medical papers, but it wasn't until 1960 that this became a reality with the first publication of the Journal 'Gut'.
The first meeting of the British Society for Digestive Endoscopy was held in 1972 following the Spring Meeting of the BSG. Over 100 members of the BSDE and BSG attended. Both societies maintained strong links, and during the 1980s, the British Society for Digestive Endoscopy was incorporated into the BSG. The incorporation of the BSDE also accelerated the growth of the BSG into a wider membership as there were nurses, radiographers, technicians and others involved in the practice of clinical endoscopy. To this day, the Endoscopy section of the BSG remains a very strong section of the BSG.
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Until 2011, there was a separate parallel organisation, Trainees in Gastroenterology (TiG), which for over 20 years, was the national representative organisation for registrars in the UK. It helped shape specialty training in the UK and provided a national forum for networking amongst trainees. It had strong links with the BSG, with representation on the BSG Council, and organised symposia at the Annual Meeting. In 2011, constitutional reform in the BSG formalised the formation of the BSG Trainees Section, along with Trainee representation on all committees.