COMPANY BACKGROUND

Limited Company Status

BARNA is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Companies House as Company No. 02809708.

A copy of the working constitution under the articles of association - Companies Act 1985 is available to view for any member of the association.

The company is run by non-paid professional nurses within the peri-anaesthetic field of nursing who form the committee/executive committee some of whom are registered as company directors at Companies House.

Professional help is solicited with regards to:

1. Legal advice
2. Auditing of accounts
3. Journal editing/printing
4. Conference/study day catering

Election of Committee Members

Committee members are elected onto the general committee at the AGM held in June at the annual conference. The executive committee is made up of key committee members: chairman, treasurer, company secretary, membership secretary, education officer. A committee member may be co-opted onto the committee during the year by other committee members.

Registered charity status

BARNA is a registered charity since its primary function is to further educational and professional development for all practitioners within the peri-anaesthetic field of nursing. Profit from company revenue is directed towards these aims.

Charitable Status exempts BARNA from VAT payments, income tax and Capital Gains tax.

BARNA is registered as Educational Charity No. 1039150

BACK TO TOP

The association was formed in 1986 in the midlands by a group of anaesthetic and recovery nurses. The association was called the 'Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurses Association' at this time, or ARNA. A quarterly journal was produced and an annual conference took place in Birmingham.

In 1993 the association was formally converted from an unincorporated Association into a Limited Company. Shortly afterwards, its charity status was secured. The name was changed from ARNA to BARNA (British Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurses Association).

The Association continued to develop from 1993 onwards both with regard to membership (which increased from 400 to 600 members from all over the United Kingdom) and to national recognition. In 1995 BARNA became the official representative of the International Federation of Nurse Anaesthetics - a federation founded to raise educational and professional standards for all nurses working within the anaesthetic area.

Over the next two years 1996-7 BARNA worked alongside other national associations (NATN, AODP & RCN) to strategic planning for the development of theatre nurses and also in defining the roles within the perioperative field with the Department of Health. BARNA has also been involved in study led by the Association of Anaesthetists on examining the role of anaesthetic assistants.

To date the association remains the only UK focus group which specifically represents the interests of anaesthetic and recovery nurses. Membership has grown and the annual conference attracts an increasingly large delegation. In January 1999 a very successful study day 'Clinical Scenarios' was held in London. In June 1999 the Link Scheme was established in order to encourage local BARNA focus groups to flourish both to network within regions and to feedback 'grass roots' information on clinical practice and concerns to the national committee. 

BACK TO TOP

Philosophy:
BARNA seeks to promote excellent standards of clinical practice within the field of Anaesthetic and Recovery nursing in the United Kingdom. Through its access to research, and provision of education, BARNA encourages the development of all its members and promotes the national recognition of their interests through its links with other associations within this critical care domain.

Aims:

Specific Objectives:

BACK TO TOP