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AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE VSR MEETING JULY 2007
Attendees
- Paul Blacker, Ear Acupuncture Register (PB)
- Ray Gandhi, National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (RG)
- Anne Marshall, Acu-Detox Plus UK (AM)
- Pauline Ronson, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists (PR)
- Janine Short, Acupuncture Consultancy Training (JS)
- Jonathan Tarr, Society of Auricular Acupuncturists (JT)
- Jean Nestor, Princes Foundation for Integrated Health (JN)
1. Welcome and Apologies
Every attendee gave a brief description of themselves and their organisation:
AM trains drug workers Stage 1 5 points detox training, Stage 2 Hep C
RG treasurer for NADA (5 points detox training)
PB represents both EAR and CNM (comprehensive auricular ac. training)
PR and JT represented SAA (comprehensive auricular ac. training)
JS trains 5 points detox
2. Notes of meeting 27th April 2007 and ASG
PB gave an overview of Acupuncture Stakeholders Group and why the auricular acupuncture groups decided VSR was the way forward, with the exception of SMART UK.
3. Recruitment of Lay Chair (Agenda item 4)
PB has approached Liz Plastow from the Nursing and Midwifery Council to become our lay chair. She has a wide understanding of statutory regulation and therefore would be a great asset to our group. It was therefore proposed and seconded that we ask Liz.
4. Proposed venues for further VSR meetings
There were various suggested venues:
AM Bristol, JS York, PR Hounslow, PB Central London
5. Discuss Constitution of VSR Council
PB asked if all organisations are in favour of VSR. RG agreed in principle but explained that it must be put to Board of Trustees to vote in favour. All other organisations agreed. PB then read through the draft Constitution notes he had circulated to the members and below are the general comments that were highlighted:
Name It was proposed that we use the title ‘Auricular Acupuncture Council’. However, when JN joined the meeting at 3.15p.m, she explained that we would have to call ourselves a Regulatory Working Group, until the Council was legally formed. Hence we were now being called the Auricular Acupuncture Regulatory Working Group.
Legal Status PB suggested asking for information from ASG/B.Ac.C. PB will action
Membership The group needs to find as many auricular acupuncture organisations as we can. It was suggested contacting Balens insurance. PR to action
Voting Rights It was agreed to remove three words from page 7 of 7 to read ‘A simple majority shall be required to pass any motion’.
Administration, Auditing & Accounting It was discussed among the group about the various administrative roles – Treasurer, Secretary etc. These posts would be entirely voluntary. However there would be a cost implication for auditing accounts. There were concerns about funding of the AARWG amongst the members. JN was asked to join the meeting to see if there would be any possible funding from the PFIH?
Disciplinary Procedures JS expressed some concerns about the wording of Appendix 4. PB suggested sending the Disciplinary document to Liz Plastow for her views and comments. PB to action.
6. Funding from PFIH for VSR groups
The group asked JN to attend the meeting so that we could ask her about possible funding for our VSR group and especially for the lay chair. JN explained that in 2000 a 5 years grant was given to the PFIH from the Kings Fund to help support the regulation of complementary healthcare, and a further 3 years grant was been given to them from the Department of Health, which will finish in March 2008. Complementary healthcare groups going through the VSR process can be given grants annually from PFIH as long as they can show various milestones and achievements towards the regulatory process. JN said that groups can receive as much as £4500, and that ad hoc grants can also be given at different times. £500 can be given for a lay chair, for example. JN would email PR the application to be on the PFIH programme. However, she said that we would not be eligible for funding from PFIH until March 2008.
PB asked JN what the cost would be for a lay chair. £200 + travelling expenses was suggested as the average per day. It was agreed that the group would finance a lay chair to attend the next meeting with all groups contributing to the costs.
7. Work in progress
JN explained that we needed to keep our members updated about the VSR procedure. PB suggested that all groups consult with members before the next meeting. The group needs to set out a Mission Statement establishing our commitment to explore the possibility of an Auricular Acupuncture Council in England and Wales.
8. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Friday 2nd November 2007. The venue is to be agreed.
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