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Constitution

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Constitution and Byelaws

The Pelvic Floor Society

Revised February 2026

1. Title

The Society shall be known as The Pelvic Floor Society (TPFS).

2. Objectives

Mission

To promote best clinical practice for people with pelvic floor disorders through the provision of high-quality patient care, education and research.

Strategic Objectives

Define, promote and encourage high standards of practice in the management of pelvic floor disorders within the areas of colorectal, gynaecology, urology, gastroenterology, radiology and sexual health.

Advance the knowledge base within these specialties by supporting engagement in clinical research and dissemination of published data.

Raise awareness, provide professional leadership and direct national policy by engaging with governmental and regulatory bodies within Great Britain and Ireland on all matters relating to pelvic floor disorders.

Provide a forum for members, stakeholders and the public to engage in critical discussion and exchange of information on all matters relating to pelvic floor disorders.

Promote and recommend standards of pelvic floor investigation and practice through unit accreditation. To promote the safe adoption of new technologies into pelvic floor surgery.

Develop, support and deliver the highest quality education and training and provide opportunities for members to improve their knowledge, skills, and understanding. (e.g. training initiatives, courses, workshops, mentoring, and relevant workplace activities supporting UK pelvic floor clinical fellowships).

Develop links and collaborations with other healthcare professional organisations and bodies, and patient and public organisations

To promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the running of the society, education, research opportunities and equitable provision of care.

Value the lived experience of individuals with pelvic floor conditions and create an environment where they can be involved in shaping the provision of pelvic floor care across Great Britain & Ireland.

3. Policy

No action shall be taken by TPFS in any matter affecting the general policy of Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) without the consent of the council of ACPGBI.

4. Membership

Criteria

Membership will be open to annually subscribing members of all relevant professional organisations/bodies who are actively engaged in the management of, or the study of, patients with pelvic floor disorders.

Colorectal surgeons are required to be members of the Association of Coloproctologists of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI).

Applications for membership will be considered by the Executive Committee, as required.

New members will be introduced at the next AGM following their successful nomination.

The subscription year runs from 01 January to 31st December.

Categories

There shall be FIVE forms of membership, namely: Ordinary Member, Associate Member,  Senior/Retired Member, Overseas Member and Honorary Member.

Ordinary

Ordinary membership applies to medical practitioners on the specialist register; medical specialists of any discipline related to pelvic floor disorders; specialist nurses, allied healthcare professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical scientists etc.) and other non-medical healthcare professionals working in the field of pelvic floor disorders who have full membership of their own professional body; non-medical scientists holding a permanent appointment in the UK or Northern Ireland; and doctors in posts in the UK or Ireland (>1 year), all of whom have a demonstrable interest in the diagnosis and management of pelvic floor disorders.

Associate

Associate membership applies to students/trainees who have an interest in pelvic floor disorders. An associate member shall not have voting rights.

Senior/retired

Senior membership applies to those members who have retired from active clinical practice or have reached the age of seventy, whichever is earlier. He/she no longer require the benefits of Ordinary membership and may be elected by the executive at the member’s request. The senior member shall not have voting rights.

Overseas

Overseas membership applies to duly registered medical practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals residing and practising outside the UK and Northern Ireland but who have a demonstrable interest in pelvic floor disorder. Application requires provision of a curriculum vitae and description of current practice. An overseas member shall not have voting rights.

Honorary

At the discretion of the Executive Committee, Honorary membership may be offered to individuals who have advanced the management and treatment of pelvic floor disorders during their clinical career. An Honorary member shall not have voting rights.

Exclusions

In the event of suspension by an NHS Trust or other employing authority, a TPFS member will be excluded from voting, attending executive meetings (if an Executive Officer), and attending TPFS events/meetings.

Nominations

Applicants must complete an online application form describing current scope of practice and provide a curriculum vitae to support their application.

5. Voting Rights

Ordinary Members will have full voting rights.

Associate Members, Senior (Retired) Members, Overseas Members and Honorary Members will have no voting rights.

6. Honorary Officers and Executive Committee Members

All Executive Committee roles are honorary positions.

Executive Committee Officers

The executive officers shall consist of TPFS Chair, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.

Executive Committee

Roles on the Executive Committee shall include:

  • TPFS Chair-in-waiting (1 year)
  • TPFS Past Chair (1 year)
  • Honorary Membership Secretary
  • Education and Training Lead
  • ACPGBI Council Education & Training Representative
  • Quality Assurance and Clinical Governance Lead
  • Chair of Research and Development Committee
  • Chair of Programmes Committee
  • Chair of Governance and Accreditation Committee
  • External Affairs Officer
  • Nursing Representative (ACP)
  • Physiotherapy Representative (POGP)
  • Clinical Scientist Representative (AGIP)

In addition to the above, regional representatives will be sought from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Representatives from The Dukes Club, British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), and British Society of Gastrointestinal & Abdominal Radiology (BSGAR).

i) Elections

The TPFS Chair is elected from within the existing executive committee and not open to public ballot of the membership. If more than one candidate is nominated, then election will be by ballot. In the event of a tie, the retiring TPFS Chair may exercise their casting vote. The TPFS Chair may serve for a period of two-years. They may be re-elected for a further two-year term of office if no other members of the executive committee seek nomination for election as the next TPFS chair (chair-in-waiting).

The current TPFS Chair shall seek nominations for the next TPFS chair (chair-in-waiting) at an executive meeting at least one-year prior to the end of their tenure. The Honorary Secretary will confirm that those nominated are prepared to stand for election.

Other honorary officers shall be elected annually at the AGM by ordinary members of the society with voting rights. All elected officers may serve for an initial period of 3 years. If they stand for re-election, they may serve for a further 3 years if re-elected. After this point, they may not be reappointed into their vacated Executive position for at least one year.

ii) Code of Conduct

The TPFS promotes and enforces the standards specified within the Code of Conduct, adherence to which is deemed to constitute a condition of membership or appointed/elected role.

Individuals who are found to have breached the Code through non-compliance with any of its provisions may be subject to removal or suspension of membership or appointed / elected role.

If, on the basis of a completed investigation by an employer, the GMC or any other regulatory body or associated professional organisation, a member or organisation is found to no longer be in good standing with the TPFS, membership of the TPFS or appointed/elected role will be withdrawn.

Where an investigation by the GMC, any other regulatory body or associated professional organisation or employer is ongoing, the TPFS will withhold taking any formal decision until the investigation is completed and the outcome is known. Any members in elected roles, including the Executive and Council, may be stepped down from the role whilst the investigation is carried out, after TPFS Executive discussion.

All decisions will be made by the TPFS Executive. Any action or outcome will be carried out with their full support.

iii) Resignations

Resignations of executive positions must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to fill any casual vacancy among the honorary or other officers. In such cases the officer appointed shall retire at the next AGM, or seek formal ratification of appointment.

The executive committee shall have the power to remove any officer who repeatedly fails to attend business meetings without good cause.

iv) Quorum

One third of members of the Executive Committee will form a quorum for ordinary matters. In decisions regarding constitution change this requires one-half of members of the executive committee and discussion at an AGM or at an extraordinary meeting.

8. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held during the Autumn meeting of TPFS or not later than fifteen months following the previous AGM, and is open to all members.

The quorum for the AGM shall be 10 voting members.

All matters of policy concerning TPFS shall be decided by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present at the AGM. Twenty-one days’ notice of the meeting shall be given which shall include date, time and location of the meeting, together with a copy of the draft agenda.

At the Annual General Meeting, normally held during the clinical meeting, the business shall be:

  • To announce forthcoming executive vacancies and elect officers and members of the society.
  • To receive and adopt the annual report from the TPFS Chairs.
  • To receive the report of the Honorary Secretary.
  • To receive the report of the Honorary Treasurer that will contain the audited accounts for the previous financial year.
  • Such other business as the executive council may decide.

Any TPFS member who wishes to move a resolution at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice in writing to the Honorary Secretary not less than 21 days before the date of the meeting.

The change of TPFS chair will occur at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland (usually July) at which time vacant positions for the executive committee will be advertised.

Application for all honorary executive posts will remain open for at least four weeks. Applicants may only apply for one executive position.

On closure of the application process the following may occur.

For un-contested posts where no application for a position has occurred the current executive post-holder will be granted the option to continue in post for a second term if only one-term has been served.

For un-contested posts where no application for a position has occurred and the current executive post-holder has served two-terms, the post will be re-advertised. If no member applies at the time of second asking, then the post may be filled by the existing post-holder at the discretion of the executive committee and TPFS chair.

If only a single application for a post is received and the existing post-holder does not wish to remain in post and/or has served two-terms in office, then the applicant will be appointed without the need for a vote from ordinary members of the society.

If there is more than one applicant or the existing post-holder wishes to remain in post, then an election will be arranged. Following voting, elected members will be announced prior to the Annual Meeting of TPFS (usually November).

Change of all executive committee positions other than the TPFS chair and Chair-in-Waiting will occur at the TPFS Annual General Meeting.

9. General Meetings

The Executive Committee will meet at least twice a year with one meeting being held during the Annual Conference.

10. Administration

The Honorary Secretary will be responsible for providing minutes of General Meetings, Annual General Meetings, and revisions of the Constitution and Byelaws, and shall correspond as appropriate with the Membership, and other professional bodies and associations.

The Honorary Membership Secretary shall manage and administer the membership database and applications for membership. They will correspond with the TPFS membership as necessary and in a timely manner.

The Honorary Treasurer will be responsible for administering the finances of the Society.

11. Finances and Accounts

TPFS is responsible for financial support of all its meetings and activities.

Sponsorship will be sought from industry as appropriate and necessary.

All debts and liabilities incurred by or on behalf of TPFS are the sole responsibility of TPFS and are not the responsibility of ACPGBI or any other organization. Any contractual or other arrangements with third parties shall contain a statement to that effect.

An audited bank account will be held by the society with no less than two authorized digital signatures for payments to creditors. The Executive committee, on advice from the treasurer may decide to change bank if it is deemed to be in the best interests of the Society.

The Executive Committee shall authorise the Honorary Treasurer, TPFS chair, Honorary Secretary and the Administration Manager to sign cheques/digitally authorise on behalf of the society. The society can authorise the addition of one signatory from a contracted agent to be one of the signatories on the account for a temporary period. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the six authorised signatories. In addition, there will be facilities for electronic banking whereby payments to creditors are authorised by no less than two signatories.

12. Indemnity

No member shall be held liable to TPFS/ACPGBI for any financial loss arising from any expenditure of its funds unless made fraudulently or negligently, which shall include failure to take internal or external appropriate advice. No member shall be held liable to TPFS/ACPGBI for any losses arising from the negligence or fraud of any of the Association's employees, volunteers or other agents providing that reasonable supervision of such parties has been exercised.

13. Dissolution

If TPFS is wound up for any reason, and after all its debts and liabilities have been satisfied, any residual monies shall be transferred to ACPGBI, or any such charitable cause having aims similar to the TPFS/ACPGBI. Notification of the dissolution of TPFS shall be lodged with the Council of the ACPGBI and the Royal College of Surgeons.