Terms of Use

1 Title   [top]
The Association shall be known as the Health Care Supply Association (formerly the Health Care Supplies Association).

2 Status   [top]
The Association shall be a Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.

3 Objects   [top]
The Objects of the Association shall be:

3.1 o To promote, maintain and seek continuously to improve professional standards and training relating to supplies and associated services within the Health Care Sector.

3.2 o To establish and maintain a professional link with appropriate statutory bodies.

3.3 o To liaise with professional and other organisations.

4 Eligibility for Membership   [top]
The Council of the Association shall have the power to accept or reject any application for membership.

There shall be four levels of membership of the Association:

Individual Membership

4.1 o Persons engaged in purchasing and supply within the Health Care Sector. Applications for membership to be submitted through Branches for consideration by Council, whose decision shall be final.

Honorary Members

4.2 o The Council shall have power to elect persons to Honorary Membership in recognition of distinguished service to the aims of the Association. Nominations for honorary membership may be submitted by Officers of Council or Branches for consideration by Council, whose decision shall be final.

Retired Members

4.3 o Members upon retirement may retain membership of their Branch.Corporate Membership

4.4 o Corporate Membership shall be available to organisations external to the NHS who wish to keep themselves informed on developments in purchasing and supply in the Health Care Sector and take advantage of the benefits afforded by the Association. Corporate members shall have no voting rights but will receive notice of, and may attend, Branch meetings.

5 Cancellation of Membership   [top]
Council shall have power to cancel membership in the following circumstances:

5.1 o Any member who, in the opinion of the Council, is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

5.2 o Any member whose annual subscription remains unpaid for a period of one full year and, following report of the fact to Council, shall at the discretion of the Council, cease to be a member of the Association.

6 Branches   [top]
Branches shall be formed as determined by Council.

6.1 o Each Branch shall elect a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Council Representative and such other officers as it considers necessary for the efficient functioning of the Branch. These officers must be voting members of the Association. Offices may be combined if the Branch so desires. The internal organisation shall be decided by the Branch, but shall not conflict in any way with the Constitution of the Association. Branches shall normally meet on not less than two occasions during the year and the Branch Secretary shall forward to the Executive Director of the Association two copies of the minutes of Branch meetings. The elected Branch Representative to Council shall present any matters referred to the Council by the Branch at the next appropriate meeting of the Council following the Branch meeting. Special meetings shall be held as required to discuss matters of urgency submitted to Branches for Council consideration.

7 Council of the Association   [top]
The business of the Association shall be conducted by a Council consisting of:

7.1 o The Officers of the Association
7.2 o One elected representative from each Branch.

8 Election of Council Members   [top]
Each Branch shall elect biennially from amongst its voting members one person to serve on the Council of the Association. Each Branch shall nominate a deputy to attend meetings of the Council in the absence of the elected member. Appointments to the Council shall be operative from the first day of April in each second year.

The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Council, the Annual General Meeting, Special General Meetings and Executive.

9 President and Officers of the Association   [top]
The President and Officers of the Association shall be:

President of the Association
9.1 o The Council of the Association shall appoint biennially a President of the Association. The appointment shall be operative from the first day of April in each second year.

Executive Director of the Association
9.2 o The Association shall appoint an Executive Director who will have executive responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Association.

Officers of the Association
9.3 o Officers of the Association shall be appointed biennially by members of the Council. The Officers shall be the Chairman, Chairman Elect, Immediate Past Chairman, Executive Director, Treasurer, Education Co-ordinator, Conference Organiser, Minute Secretary and Membership Secretary, who shall act in these respective capacities on behalf of the Association and form an Executive Committee. The appointments shall be operative from the first day of April in each second year. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Council, the Annual General Meeting, Special General Meetings and Executive Committe Meetings.

9.4 o There shall also be appointed an Honorary Auditor who will not be a member of the Council.

10 Powers of the Council   [top]

The powers of the Council shall be:

10.1 o To act on behalf of the Association in any matters affecting it.

10.2 o To set up an Executive Committee comprising Officers of the Association as identified in Clause 9.3 above, who shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Council and have executive responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the association in accordance with such rules and limits as defined from time to time by Council.

10.3 o To appoint such other Officers as it considers necessary for the efficient running of the Council.

10.4 o To set up such Standing Committees as are necessary for the efficient execution of the work of Council. Membership of the Standing Committees shall be drawn from the membership of the Association and the Standing Committees shall work within the rules prescribed by the Council.

10.5 o To prepare its own rules for the conduct of business provided:

(I) o A quorum shall consist of seven Council members including two Officers.

(II) o Fourteen days' clear notice of meeting shall be given by the Executive Director.

(III) o Not less than four meetings shall be held in each year.

(IV) o Any six elected members of the Council shall be empowered to convene a special meeting of the Council and state the business for which the meeting shall be called. Fourteen clear days' notice shall be given to all Council members.

11 Minutes of Council Meetings   [top]
A copy of Council minutes (unconfirmed) shall be sent to Council members and the Secretary of each Branch within one month of each Council meeting. Copies of minutes (confirmed) of Executive Committee meetings shall be sent to Council members with 21 days of the meeting.

12 Annual General Meeting of the Association   [top]
An Annual General Meeting shall be held, notice of which shall be given in writing to members at least 14 days before the date of the meeting. At the Annual General Meeting the Council shall submit a report in respect of the work of the Association, including the submission of daily audited accounts. Resolutions to be included in the Agenda will be those entered by Council or previously submitted to Council by Branches.

13 Special General Meetings   [top]
Council may call a Special General Meeting of the Association if considered necessary and must do so upon receipt of a written request to the Elective Director signed by not less than 50 full members of the Association, stating the business for which the meeting is required to be held. Fourteen clear days' notice of a Special General Meeting shall be given.

14 Alteration of the Constitution   [top]
The Constitution of the Association cannot be altered except by resolution passed at the Annual General or Special General Meeting of the Association convened under Clauses 12 or 13 of the Constitution, showing a two-thirds majority of the votes in favour of the resolution. Full members may vote by proxy seven clear days prior to the published date of the Annual or Special General Meeting.

Subscriptions   [top]
Subscription rates shall be determined as follows:

15.1 o The Annual Subscription, for individual members, shall be determined at each Annual General Meeting of the Association.

15.2 o The Annual Subscription, for Corporate Membership, shall be determined by the Council of the Association.

15.3 o Honorary and Retired members shall be exempt from the payment of subscriptions at the discretion of the Council of the Association.

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