Lay Advisory Group

The Lay Advisory Group was created in 2008 as part of the College’s new constitution, and it has been fully operational since February 2009. It exists to contribute a non-clinical perspective to College decision-making at every level.

The Lay Advisory Group (LAG) provides advice from a lay perspective on the standards of care and training in Emergency Medicine. The LAG is primarily a lay, not a patient representative group.

Unlike other Medical Colleges, the nature of emergency medicine means that RCEM does not represent patients with specific conditions. In light of this LAG acts as a critical friend to the College, offering strategic advice from a non-institutional perspective.  However the College does champion the needs of patients’ safety in emergency medicine and from time to time LAG may provide or source the patient perspective on specific issues when required.

The LAG has an advisory role and reports to the Council, the Chair of the LAG sits on Counci.  The LAG remit covers the following:

• Highlighting areas of patient concern to the Royal College and Council and advise on appropriate action
• Ensuring that the Royal College takes into account the patient and public perspective in all appropriate activities.
• Being a resource for the Royal College to enable the delivery of a professional service that meets the needs and aspirations of patients and the public.
• Developing patient and public involvement in Royal College activities
• Developing patient information and education in Emergency Medicine
• Contributing to the development of  Royal College policies
• Ensuring that decisions are made according to the Royal College's role in protecting the public interest, and in  promoting high professional standards
• Responding to requests for comments from Council, its Boards and Committees
• Highlighting the work of the Royal College whilst safeguarding the Royal College's reputation.

To fulfil this remit the Chair of the Lay Group liaises with the President and Chief Executive of the College to determine how best to utilise the skills and experience of the lay members, having regard for their time available and budgetary constraints.  This includes involvement in College projects and Committee work on an issue by issue basis, as well as sitting on College Committees.

The role of the lay representative is to combine being a supportive member of a decision making panel, providing independent guidance and constructive challenges to current ways of thinking. All lay members are invited to act as individuals rather than on behalf of outside organisations, but they are encouraged to feedback information to those organisations with which they have links.

The LAG may have up to 12 members and currently has 5 members.  It seeks to expand up to 12 members to enable it to pursue a proactive role within the RCEM.  

Please contact the committee via Ben Walker, Policy Manager

Email. ben.walker@rcem.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7400 6107