Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA)

Once again it is time to consider nominations for national awards in the 2010 round. Full information concerning the scheme and process is available on http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCEA/index.htm.

ESRA UK & Ireland, as a specialist society, is a recognised nominating body for national awards in the 2010 round and recommendations made by our society will be considered as official nominations. For the 2010 round candidates can apply at a single level, Bronze (Level 9), Silver (Level 10), and Gold (Level 11). We are asked to rank eligible consultants separately at these levels.

There is no fixed time limit that determines whether a consultant should be considered for a Bronze award. It takes time to develop the over and above achievements necessary to succeed competitively, and in practice consultants who apply for a national award will normally have at least 4 CEA and will have been in post for about 10 years (or more). However exceptions do occur.

Consultants who hold a Level 9 CEA can apply for a national award.

ESRA UK & Ireland is considering contributions specifically in relationship to regional anesthesia this will be the primary consideration when we rank the applications, specifically:

• Sustained and outstanding contribution to the provision and / or organisation of improved clinical care for patients that has a national or international impact
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to management /and or leadership in the field of regional anaesthesia that has a national or international impact
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to research in regional anesthesia that has a national or international impact.
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to teaching and education in regional anaesthesia that has a national or international impact.
• These achievements should be made partially or wholly outside of normal contracted time

There are supplementary forms available for management/leadership, research and innovation and teaching /training. Bronze or Silver candidates may choose to submit ONE supplementary form; Gold candidates can submit TWO supplementary forms. Do not submit a supplementary form unless you have made an outstanding contribution in a particular area. Repetition does not enhance your chances of success.

In the past “B” Distinction Award holders have been given the option of applying for either a Silver or Gold Clinical Excellence Award. From the forthcoming 2010 round, “B” holders will ONLY be able to apply for a SILVER CEA.

Please ensure you read the 2010 Guide for Applicants carefully, as there have been substantial changes for the 2009 version and the Guide for Award Holders, if applicable. These are available on: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCES/index.htm.

Please take care in completing you application, do not use acronyms and remember that it must be comprehensible to a lay person. There is good advice about completing the forms on the RCoA website.

If you would like to be considered for the ESRA UK & Ireland list of nominations , please return a fully completed CVQ application form in a WORD document to Dr Barrie Fischer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 16^th October 2009. The employer’s reference does not have to be completed.

Please note that this is NOT your application to ACCEA, which must be made electronically by YOU before Friday 11^th December 2009.

Your application will be copied to all members of the ESRA UK & Ireland ACCEA committee that will be chaired by Dr Barrie Fischer, the results of which will be informed to candidates individually.

The ACCEA awards take nominations in support of consultants in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate consultant reward schemes unconnected to the ACCEA awards, but run on similar lines. Citations in support of candidates in Scotland and Northern Ireland may be accepted by both, but you are advised to confirm this before nominating yourself for support by ESRA UK & Ireland.

The Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) http://www.sacda.scot.nhs.uk/

The Northern Ireland Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme (CEA). http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/cea_guidance.

I hope this gives some degree of clarity to the forthcoming round. If you need further advice, please contact me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Yours

Barry Nicholls

President ESRA UK & Ireland

(UK & Ireland official zonal representation of ESRA)