1997 Richard Ward organise a meeting to discuss the future of Cardiothoracic SA's in the UK.
           Motion to form an association was passed and the Association of Cardiothoracic Surgical Assistants (ACSA) was formed.
           Richard Ward voted as the first President.
           Need for a formal qualification identified

1997 SCTS, RCS and ACSA formulate the Surgeons assistant Diploma in Cardiothoracics

1998 ACSA identified a need to run a revision course for future candidates for the diploma.

2004 Title of Surgical Practitioner was reviewed by the DoH . 
          Title later changed again to Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP)

2004 Work begins on the National Curriculum Framework for SCP's initiated by the DoH.
           ACSA worked with many other organisations including

           Royal College of Surgeons, 
           National Association of Assistants in Surgical Practice
           Association for Preoperative Practice
           Association of Surgeons in Training 
           Association of Operating Department Practitioners
           British Orthopaedic Trainees Association
           Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

2006 National Curriculum framework published

2007 ACSA and SCTS and decided to start holding the annual general meeting to co-inside with the SCTS meeting.

2009 ACSA get formal representation within the SCTS

2009/10 New website created with the aid of industry sponsorship and acsa funds,
                      providing members with up-to-date news, forum, archived material and ability to renew fees online

ACSA meetings and Presidents past and present

1997 Inaugural meeting Peterborough. President: Richard Ward
1998 Second meeting Peterborough. President: Richard Ward
1999 Third meeting Papworth Hospital. President: Richard Ward
2000 Fourth meeting Peterborough. President: Richard Ward
2001 Fifth meeting Huntingdon President: Richard Ward
2002 Sixth meeting Huntingdon.  New president elected: Terry Redhead
2003 Seventh meeting Newcastle. President: Terry Redhead 
2004 Eighth meeting Newcastle. New president elected: Steve Bryant .
2005 Ninth meeting Nottingham. President: Steve Bryant .
2006 Tenth meeting Birmingham. New president elected: Tony Jessop .
2007 Eleventh meeting Edinburgh President: Tony Jessop .
2008 Twelfth meeting Edinburgh. (within SCTS) President: Tony Jessop .
2009 Thirteenth meeting (within SCTS) Bournemouth.  New President elected: Tobias Rankin
2010 Fourteenth meeting (within SCTS) Liverpool.  President  Tobias Rankin
2011 Fifteenth meeting (within SCTS) London.  New President elected: Alistair Marshall