About the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG)

The BCIG is a unique group of health care professionals and other interested parties in auditory implant provision in the UK. The BCIG believes that if a patient meets the criteria for a cochlear implant as specified in the NICE Guidance, funding for that treatment must be provided by the appropriate healthcare commissioning body following a positive assessment by the specialist cochlear implant centre.

BCIG has the Following Aims

• To promote all medical, surgical, audiological, educational, rehabilitative and research aspects of auditory implant technologies.
• To hold meetings at which those interested in auditory implantation may attend, discuss clinical practice and present clinical and scientific papers.
• To take an overarching interest in all aspects of the development of auditory implants (including screening and assessment, service provision, related sciences and health promotion) in the United Kingdom and Eire.
• To provide advice on auditory implantation to other related professional organisations, the Department of Health and other relevant bodies.
• To facilitate the development of clinical guidelines and standards, providing a forum for members to collaborate and agree best practice, in association with other appropriate stakeholders.
• To liaise with similar organisations internationally.
• The group shall have at least one scientific and one business meeting per year.

The History of BCIG

It might be fair to say that the principles of BCIG gradually emerged as the benefits of cochlear implants became more tangible. Commercial multichannel implants were introduced in to the UK in 1988, funded by charity.

One of the first meetings on cochlear implants in the overall management of hearing impairment took place on February 24, 1989.  Speakers included were Graham Fraser, Roger Thornton, Huw Cooper, Christine Harding (a patient), Damien Bains’ mother, Richard Ramsden and Sue Roberts. Constitutional organisation for a formal BCIG took place later in the year.

The main focus at that time was coordination of centres in response to Government funding for a 3 year assessment, over seen by Quentin Summerfield and David Marshall. The study successfully showed that CIs were both clinically and cost effective in the treatment of severe to profound hearing loss. It also saw the transformation of funding from charity to the National Health Service.

Between 1990 and 2003 BCIG met twice a year holding a 1 day academic and a 1 day ‘Business’ meeting. Eventually this was formalised into the annual two day meetings that are currently held today.

We are still trying to un-earth details of the earlier meetings – so any information would be really appreciated.

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Meetings and Chairs of the BCIG

Year	Venue	Chair
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024	London Edinburgh     Ayr Edinburgh Cardiff Manchester Belfast Manchester York Bridgend Ayr Bristol North Wales Stone Staffs Southampton Manchester Belfast London - GOST Oxford Birmingham London - St Thomas' Dublin Bradford Cambridge Southampton Nottingham Manchester Scotland Turnberry) Leeds Bristol London Birmingham Belfast Southampton Nottingham Virtual Cardiff Cambridge Newcastle upon Tyne	Graham Fraser Graham Fraser Richard Ramsden Richard Ramsden Richard Ramsden Richard Ramsden Richard Ramsden Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper Huw Cooper John Graham John Graham John Graham John Graham John Graham John Graham Julie Brinton Julie Brinton Louise Craddock Louise Craddock Louise Craddock Chris Raine Chris Raine Chris Raine Chris Raine Tracey Twomey Tracey Twomey Tracey Twomey Tracey Twomey Tracey Twomey Helen Cullington Helen Cullington Helen Cullington Helen Cullington Manohar Bance