The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) is constantly looking to be the best organisation it can possibly be. As an organisation we have recently been reviewing the way we operate and make ourselves more efficient, more transparent and more inclusive. This process has involved developing clear strategies and operating procedures for every element of our work. As part of this process, we commissioned a Governance Framework Review and we are delighted to share a summary with you, including the Trustees’ responses to the recommendations. This review is an important component of our broader programme of organisational development and reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our governance structures support the Society’s core mission: to represent and serve our members, and to help them deliver the best GI and hepatology care for patients.

Through this review, we are seeking to improve how the BSG functions, how decisions are made, and how members can better engage with and influence the direction of the organisation. As stated, it forms part of a wider programme of improvements, including the evolution of our representative structures, enhanced operating procedures, how we appoint senior officers and greater opportunities for meaningful member involvement at every level.

This report was directed to the Board of Trustees and it sets out the early response from the Board and initial actions as part of a process we anticipate will take 18-24 months. The work is being led by a Governance Review Working Group of the Board and is overseen by the full Board of Trustees. Our approach will be inclusive, iterative, and transparent - and we are grateful to all those who have contributed so far. We will provide periodic updates as the work progresses, and we look forward to continuing this work together as we collectively look to make the BSG the best organisation of its kind.

Professor Colin Rees, President of the British Society of Gastroenterology
Sarah Linnington, Chief Executive Officer of the British Society of Gastroenterology
Trevor Jones, Lay Trustee and Chair of the Governance Review Working Group