In 2021 the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) launched their affiliate membership programme, enabling members of affiliated societies like the British Society of Echocardiography to access BCS benefits at a reduced price. Mr Michâel Purdon, Head of Cardiac Investigations at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, shares why he chose to take up the offer of affiliate membership.
The focus of my clinical workload is in echocardiography. I have been accredited through the BSE since 2004 and actively work with the society to promote standards and education as a Regional Representative for the East of England. Nationally, I enjoy working with the BSE as a member of the accreditation team. I have enjoyed BSE membership for over 20 years with all the educational opportunities, clinical guidance, updates and support that membership brings. Importantly of course, conference adds face to face networking, education and hands on training opportunities, sorely missed since the start of the pandemic.
In addition to echo, I lead the team of cardiac scientists and physiologists at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, a multi-site acute trust serving a population of almost 800,000 patients in Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire. My echo colleagues and I need access to education and development outside of echocardiography, complementing our imaging skills as the roles of health care scientists continue to grow and develop and we take on more enhanced and advanced roles. I also need the wider view of service improvement opportunities, technological advancements and horizon viewing which can be gained through membership of the British Cardiovascular Society. The opportunity to join BCS through the affiliate membership programme (as a current BSE member) has offered this and at a significantly reduced membership fee. This in turn has provided a reduced cost access to BCS conference alongside a range of member benefits and resources such as online access to journals and peer review publications and free or subsidised access to other BCS courses and meetings. BSC membership also offers the opportunity to apply for constituent body membership of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
In summary, affiliate membership for your specialist society combined with the more broadly encompassing BCS supports development outside of our specific areas, which can only help development, particularly for our growing non-medical cardiology workforce.
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