ACB Scottish Region, Annual Reports, 2006
This has been another busy and successful year for the Scottish region with
a series of three excellent and well attended scientific meetings.
The spring meeting was held in March at the Southern General in Glasgow, on
Point of Care testing, with first class presentations from speakers from both
within and outwith the region, including Dr Richard Taylor from Oxford, on the
thorny topic of getting those POCT results into the patient record.
This meeting also encompassed the AGM of the Scottish Region, chaired by Dr
Alan Hutchison. At the meeting he reported the recent sad death of Dr John Paterson,
Consultant Biochemist at Dumfries Royal Infirmary. Following discussion, about
how to mark his valuable and unique contribution to Clinical Biochemistry in
Scotland, the ACB Scottish Regional committee, have proposed that a prize for
a higher specialist trainee project, might be an appropriate and fitting memorial.
Details of the prize will be published on the Scottish ACB website.
The John King Award, for the best presentation by a trainee biochemist during
the year, was presented to Dr Colleen Ross for her paper entitled “Nutritional
Support and Manganese”.
At the AGM, Dr A Hutchison (Chairman) and Dr P Stromberg (Regional Member) demitted
office and were replaced by Dr J Tillman and Dr A McConnell. The committee has
also welcomed, over the past year, new Trainees Representatives Mr Neil Squires
(East) and Miss Sarah Jarvis (West).
The summer meeting was held in June in Melrose, a small town located in the
Scottish Borders, and was devoted to members’ papers. This provided an
opportunity for members, particularly the Region’s trainees, to present
the results of a number of excellent projects and some fascinating and challenging
clinical cases. Topics included the identification of specimens, evaluation
of serum light chain measurements and synergic protection of human endothelial
cells from oxidative stress by selenium and sulforaphane supplementation.
The autumn meeting, held in November at Ayr General Hospital, focussed on hypertension
and renal medicine, with international and local speakers providing an overview
of the investigation and management of hypertension, unusual clinical cases,
and a highly topical presentation on the estimation of glomerular filtration
rate from Dr Mark McGregor, a nephrologist from Ayrshire and Arran. This provided
an on overview of the background and proposed recommendations for the implementation
of eGFR reporting in Scotland.
The Scottish Regional website has been further developed by Joy Johnstone and
now hosts information and links to Scottish biochemistry laboratories; a clinical
science area, which details the results of audits performed by our Audit Group,
information about tests, and other scientific information relevant to the region.
Over the past year, Dr Peter Rae, Honorary Secretary, has been using the site
as the main means of communicating information on future meetings, reports and
minutes directly to members. However over the next year it is hoped to improve
communication further within the region by expansion of this valuable resource.
The Scottish Audit Group, under the direction of Dr Anne Pollock, has again
been extremely active. With the audit slot at regional meetings and completed
audits now posted on the website, this should promote greater dissemination
and discussion of results.
The Grade A training scheme continues to work well under the supervision of
the Regional Tutor, Dr Mike Wallace. Three Grade A Trainees were appointed in
2005, with a total of eight trainees currently in post. The help and support
in their training, provided by a wide variety of staff in many laboratories
in Scotland, is gratefully acknowledged.
The Scottish region will host the National Training Course (6) next month in
Glasgow. The organising committee, under the Chairmanship of Dr Maurizio Panarelli,
have arranged a wide and comprehensive programme supported by local and national
speakers and a full attendance is expected.
The Scottish Regional Committee met on three occasions, prior to the regional
scientific meetings. In an attempt to improve communication between members
and the regional committee, at the close of the scientific meetings, the short
business meetings have continued. Members should note that all committee minutes
are posted on the website.
Overall this has been a busy and productive year for the Scottish Region of
the ACB. My thanks are due to all the committee members, both present and outgoing,
for their hard work and dedication.
Dr Janet Tillman
Chairman, Scottish Region
20 March 2006.
Federation of Clinical Scientists
This is theoretically my last report to the Region as I am pleased to confirm
that Jaqui Maguire from Hairmyres has agreed to take over as the Scottish Regional
Representative to the FCS National Committee. However, as Jaqui is currently
on maternity leave I am holding the fort. We will notify members and Local Representatives
in due course of the change over date.
As for the Local Representatives the situation in Scotland mirrors that around
the UK with a hard core of individuals, including 2 Clinical Microbiologists,
with no obvious successors. I have 2 areas where there is no representation
at present with members agreeing to act as post boxes. As with most ACB structures
there is a need for new blood. The FCS can provide excellent management training
by exposure and I would encourage senior colleagues to recognise the importance
of these positions and encourage their junior staff to think of these positions
as opportunities.
I have to pay tribute to the Local Representatives for all the work they have
undertaken in relation to Agenda for Change. This workload is unlikely to diminish
in the short term, as members disappointed by their banding seek redress through
the review and appeals processes. The local impact of AfC is too early to call
at this moment, but members will be aware of the request from the ACB Office
for notification of individual gradings as they become available.
I have been disappointed at times to find that Heads of Departments sometimes
view their colleagues as cost centres rather than colleagues when agreeing job
descriptions.
Issues in relation to Trainees should have been resolved through the introduction
of Annexe U of the Terms and Conditions Handbook. However, the associated additional
cost is possibly deterring some employers from recruiting the expected complement
of A Grade trainees in other parts of the UK.
The work of the Regional and Local Representatives has changed over the years
from redundancy issues through AfC and the trend may well return to redundancy,
particularly in England as the modernisation agenda begins to bite.
At a national level, the lack of any significant succession planning has caught
up with the FCS Executive. I have spent some time on behalf of FCSE assisting
the succession process and a new Executive is effectively now in place with
Geoff Lester willing to step up to Chairman for a year while the new organisation
shakes down.
The FCS is one of the two Staff Side organisations represented on the Scottish
Forum for Healthcare Science (SFHS). The SEHD has now granted funding for an
individual to work with the SFHS and the most important aspect is felt to be
workforce planning. The 3 Scottish NHS Regions have now submitted interim workforce
plans and Boards are now obliged to respond by April. The chances are low that
Clinical Scientists have made it into these plans despite the acknowledged issues
with the age profile.
Dr Richard Spooner, March 2006
The Association
of Clinical Biochemists
Scottish Region
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 December 2005
Receipts
£
£
Sponsorship
1,450.00
Capitation
2,071.60
Interest received
131.99
3,653.59
Payments
2004 expenses carried over
16.80
Committee expenses
407.29
Speakers expenses
494.25
Meeting facilities/catering
888.00
John King Award
200.00
Bank charges
37.65
2,043.99
Surplus for the year
1,609.60
Reserves
Balance brought forward
8,224.41
Surplus for year
1,609.60
Balance carried forward
9,834.01
Represented by
Bank current account
500.00
Bank savings account
9,353.56
Less outstanding cheque
19.55
9,334.01
9,834.01
(Honorary Treasurer)
I certify that the above balance is in accordance with the records,
receipts and bank
statements supplied to me.
Signed: Dr A Glen
Frank Finlay
Treasurer
1. Only 1 meeting of the Scottish Audit Group has been held this year.
2. Unfortunately no one was able to attend the last meeting of the ACB National
Audit Group (NCBAG) in September, as it clashed with the Publications Committee
and other members of the group already had too many demands on their time. The
following is taken from the notes of the meeting.
There have been continuing discussions with the RCPath and the ACP. It has been
agreed that representatives from the RCPath and ACP will attend the NCBAG and
the group will report to both these organisations; it will be responsible to
the Scientific Committee of the ACB. Terms of Reference and a constitution are
to be drawn up. UKNEQAS and WEQAS will also be invited to send representatives.
Audit areas are now being set up on the regional websites and regional audit
leads will have editorial control. These websites will link to a national audit
page. It is intended that these will include a record of proposed, ongoing and
completed audits as well as an area documenting questionnaires. It was felt
that it was acceptable for there to be open access to these areas.
There were reports from the regions describing current activity.
The 5th National Audit Meeting took place in Manchester on 3rd November.
3. Our current activities
Callum Fraser has distributed a report on the audit of FOB testing.
Reports are being prepared on the progesterone audit and the interpretation
of PSA results.
Results from the interferences questionnaire were presented at the meeting in
Ayr and a report will be produced.
A questionnaire on measurement of glycated haemoglobin has been prepared and
sent out.
A re-audit of electrophoresis practice against the guidelines is planned.
4. National Audit
A paper on the discretionary requesting of electrophoresis has been published
in the Annals in July 2005. This includes a report of the questionnaire which
was sent out previously.
A report of the re-audit of detection of xanthochromia in CSF that was sent
out previously has been received distributed to Heads of Department and/or Audit
Leads.
A report of an audit of troponin measurement in Wales and associated recommended
standards was published in the Annals in September 2005.
5. Estimated GFR
I was invited to attend a meeting in February of interested biochemists and
nephrologists instigated at the request of the Steering Group of the Scottish
Renal Registry, regarding the introduction of eGFR. The group formulated some
guidelines, which have been sent to lead biochemists and nephrologists in Scotland
for comment. The new version of the Quality Outcomes Framework of the GP contract
will incorporate eGFR reporting as of 1st April 2006.
6. Future meetings of Scottish Audit Group
Now that the group has become more dispersed it is more difficult to meet up
and while much can be done by email there is nothing like the deadline of a
meeting for concentrating the mind. The members of the group based in the West
of Scotland intend to meet together but it is important that the group as a
whole meet together. The possibility of the Regional Committee providing funding
for travelling and associated expenses so that the Audit Group can meet together
is under consideration.
7. Regretfully I am unable to continue as Chair of the Audit Group due to other
pressures. I am very grateful to all the members of the group for their help
and support, and also to all the colleagues in Scottish biochemistry departments
who have taken the time to fill in the questionnaires and support our activities.
I wish my successor very best wishes for the future.
Anne Pollock
March 2006
Trainees Report for the Scottish
Region Committee Meeting/AGM
Trainees’ Committee meetings were held in September 2005 and March 2006
at Tooley St., London.
Relevant points arising from discussion were:
Agenda for Change
There are still large discrepancies between and within trusts. Annex U applies
to all trainees and is 60 to 75% of the top of band 7. Most discrepancies occur
between trusts or when a 3rd year trainee gains a grade B post. Here, the difference
may be overcome by “marking time”: freezing wages until the bias
is overcome.
Discussion regarding gender bias in the profession
Reasons for gender bias in the profession were discussed. These included lack
of awareness of the profession. Suggestions included promotion of the profession
to chemistry undergraduates, at postgraduate level and in university career
centres. A report was presented in the ACB News.
Issues regarding fair and efficient recruitment of trainees into grade B posts
Concerns were raised advertising and recruitment of grade B posts. It was confirmed
that employers have no obligation to advertise nationally. It was reported that
some hospitals are withholding grade B posts in the belief no one would apply
for them. Opportunities for trainees to make themselves known were discussed.
There is confusion over HST posts and their responsibilities. Many people in
HST posts are not state registered and yet have posts that require state registration
and pay for a state registered biochemist. There is disagreement over the definition
of a trainee biochemist, resulting in people receiving varying degrees of help
preparing for part 2 of the MRCPath. These issues will be raised at the next
regional tutors meeting.
Other issues
- There were problems with grade A recruitment, which was outsourced to
Northgate. These have been addressed.
- Pat Twomey’s course is not recognised by the ACB or RCPath.
- A Trainees’ Committee induction pack is near completion.
- Trainees’ website is being updated and improved.
- Lecture notes are increasingly being removed from the internet but will
be available on request from the ACB.
- Numbers for the ACB training courses are not sufficient, but because
they are booked 18 months in advance this will
take time to rectify. Advice is to be aware of the dates for application and send in quickly with deposit to avoid
disappointment.
- The course content of all the MSc courses is being reviewed. The ACB
will tailor the content of the training courses to
fill in the gaps.
Neil Squires,
Sarah Jarvis
The Grade A Training Scheme continues to work well and the Trainees are making
good progress. The help and support provided by a wide variety of staff in many
laboratories in Scotland is gratefully acknowledged.
GRADE A Trainees
The Trainees currently in post are:-
First Year
Dr Fiona Stefanowicz, Fife Area Laboratory, Kirkcady [Supervisor – Dr
PR Wenham]
Dr Michael Crane, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary [Supervisor – Dr P Rae]
Dr Roy WA Peake, Wishaw General Hospital [Supervisor – Mr E Carlyle]
Second Year
Dr Jane McNeilly, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary [Supervisor - Dr B Croal]
Ms Louise Brown, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee [Supervisor –
Dr Callum Fraser]
Third Year
Ms Eleanor Oakes, Stobhill General Hospital [Supervisor –Dr A M Wallace]
recently appointed to Grade B Higher Specialist training post in Ninewells
Mr Neil Squires, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh [Supervisor – Dr
JP Ashby]
Sarah Jarvis, Glasgow Royal Infirmary [Supervisor –Dr A M Wallace] recently
appointed to Grade B Higher Specialist training post in North Glasgow
Over the past year Sarah Jarvis, Eleanor Oakes and Neil Squires successfully
completed the MSc in Clinical Biochemistry with Molecular Biology at the University
of Surrey.
All trainees were appraised in October 2005 in Glasgow by the Training Scheme
Co-ordinator (Dr Callum Fraser), the ACB Regional Tutor (Dr AM Wallace), and
an External Assessor (Dr M Wheeler). It is pleasing to report all Trainees are
making very good progress. The two Trainees who had completed Year 3 were awarded
the ACB Certificate of Completion of Grade A training and have both now obtained
Higher Specialist Training Grade B Clinical Biochemists posts in North Glasgow
(Ms Louise Todd) and RHSC Edinburgh (Dr Leigh Campbell). Two of the third year
trainees (Ms Sarah Jarvis and Eleanor Oakes) have also obtained a Higher Specialist
Training Grade B posts in North Glasgow and Ninewells respectively.
It is encouraging that all have been suitably promoted before the end of their
four year Grade A contract.
Recruitment
NSD are funding three new Trainees in 2006 and it is proposed that they will
all be based in Glasgow ( Royal Infirmary, Gartnavel General Hospital and RHSC
Yorkhill). These posts have been advertised recently in the New Scientist and
the ACB Newsheet and interviews are to take place shortly. We are grateful to
Dr John Fyffe (Yorkhill) and Dr Richard Spooner(Gartnavel) for taking on this
new commitment.
Administration
Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust continues to hold the contract with NSD
for the Scottish Training Scheme for Grade A Clinical Biochemists and this arrangement
works very well. Dr Callum Fraser is currently reponsible for the co-ordination
and local administration of the scheme and the Regional Tutor is responsible
for professional matters. Dr Fraser will retire in June and the current plan
is that administrative matters will remain within Tayside. Dr Fraser has been
responsible for the smooth administration of the scheme for over ten years and
his expertise and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.
Dr AM Wallace
Regional Tutor
March 2006
ACB Clinical Practice
Section Steering Committee:
Meeting
15th November 2005
Unapproved Report (Minutes not yet Available)
Since spring 2004 planning has been underway to set up the ACB Clinical Practice
Section, which aims to better represent Clinical interests and better serve
medical membership within the ACB. This was the first meeting of the ACB CPS
Committee. The ACB CPS Committee is made up of the Steering Committee, which
includes representatives nominated by each ACB region, plus the Executive Committee,
which includes the chair- and vice-chairpersons, director of communications
and heads of the three operational sections (see below). Appointments, which
have been on a temporary basis up to now, were made formal. Elected officers
will serve for 3 years with the possibility of 2nd terms. Length of office may
need to be more flexible for SpR’s.
As part of the Steering Committee, roles of the regional representatives (eg.
for Scotland) will include electing the executive committee members, serving
on the Steering Committee, promoting awareness of the ACB CPS and of Clinical
Biochemistry as a Clinical Speciality, promoting a sense of belonging for medical
graduates, providing a mechanism for feedback to the group, ensuring good response
levels to questionnaires etc. and other more specific roles as the ACB CPS develops.
Operational Sections: The areas of interest have been divided into 3 sections,
each with Team Leaders. Sections have an open membership, and services provided
by and membership of the Sections will be open to all ACB members. These 3 sections
will be responsible for delivering services to members. Although there will
be overlap with existing ACB committees, these sections will endeavour to provide
new services and avoid duplication of effort.
(i) Clinical Specialities Section
Aims of this section include creating a discussion and meeting forum for members
with specialist clinical interests, providing clinical input for future Focus
meetings, contributing to clinical guidelines etc. Specialist Clinical Interest
groups already being formed include Cardiac, IEM, Endocrine, Nutrition, Bone
Metabolism and Best Practice groups. Contribution to best practice guidelines
is seen as a good opportunity for trainee involvement.
(ii) Professional Affairs Section
No report received for this section. Initial areas of interest include consultant
contracts and job planning, nominations for Clinical Excellence Awards, leadership
training and consultant appraisal and assessment.
(iii) Training, Education and Academic Development Section
Areas of interest include Modernising Medical Careers, medical undergraduate
education, recruitment into and profile of the speciality. The lack of teaching
of Biochemistry to undergraduates was highlighted. A response to this will need
to be broad based. This group felt that the ACB could make a contribution as
follows: an analysis of undergraduate curricula to highlight lack of Biochemistry;
a survey of students to assess ability at data handling etc
Strategic Direction:
Initial goals determined at the meeting include the following:
- Increasing ACB membership and involvement (on review of ACB membership numbers,
it would appear that around 80% of consultants and SpR’s are indeed members
and that increasing involvement of existing members should be the primary goal)
- Looking at undergraduate and postgraduate training requirements to see what
contributions can be made. Improve understanding of the specific needs of trainees
in the speciality and assess whether these are being met.
- Improving links to other organisations, for example the ACP
- Developing and advertising clinical sessions for Focus 2006 and 2007
Next Meeting
21st March 2005 at ACB Offices, Tooley Street, London
Current activities
The ACB CPS has not met since 15 November 2005 (summarised notes above) and
there is little to report at present. Recent activities have included development
of a number of Best Practice Guidelines. There has also been much debate regarding
Lord Carter’s review of Pathology Services & the ACB CPS’s response
to this. Although this is a debate for the health service of England, it retains
importance for Scotland. A webpage for the ACB CPS has also been added to the
ACB website: http://www.acb.org.uk/site/clinprac.asp .
We are trying to set up a database with details of all trainees. New trainees
should then be able to be provided with important details shortly after getting
SpR posts (namely SpR club meetings, relevant meetings, contact details of SpR’s
close by etc), something which has not happened up to now.
The ACB CPS has a meeting on 21 March 2006 which I can report back on at Livingston.
Issues on the agenda include:
1) Chairman’s report on National Executive issues
a. Carter review
b. Science Council report on diagnostic testing
c. National Electronic handbook
d. Parliamentary affairs officer
e. KSF and extended role of clinical scientists and BMS
2) Section reports
a. Clinical specialties
b. Professional affairs
c. Excellence awards
d. Education
e. Communications
3) Undergraduate education
4) Focus 2006 and 2007 planning
David Preiss
ACB CPS Regional Representative for Scotland
davidpreiss@doctors.org.uk