Issues
arising from the Royal College of Pathologists Council meeting
held on the 8th November 2007
Summary by Professor
Gordon Ferns
The Carter report is now with ministers. Its publication had been
delayed. It was anticipated that the emphasis would be on quality
and standards rather than cost savings.Lord Carter would be interviewed
for an article in the RCPath bulletin. There appears to have been
a misunderstanding regarding the proportion of laboratories with
accreditation (full versus conditional). 55% of laboratories currently
have full registration. Demand management was likely to be another
emphasis of the report and could be viewed as a facet of the quality
agenda.
The Tooke report had recommended the requirement for core-medical
training for all trainees including for example prospective Histopathology
trainees. A response from College would be drafted through the
CATTs.
A document on ‘Conveying results to GPs out of hours’
had been approved by the RCGP and would be put on the College
website.
CPA would be holding a meeting regarding its Memorandum and Articles.
The CEO of the College stated that non-payment of dividends was
not an issue as other companies were in a similar position. There
was a discussion about the rigidty with which international ISO
standards were being applied by CPA.
The non recognition of Specialist Advisers by some Deaneries was
briefly discussed, this arose because of the 15 Deaneries whose
boundaries were not co-terminus with the 8 English Regional Councils.
Some amalgamations of Deaneries were likely. A pragmatic approach
was recommended.
The President reported that the HTA Select Committee had discussed
some recommendations from the College and had indicated that revisions
would be made in the HTA Codes of Practice.
There had been a report from the Virology subcommittee on home
tesing for Hepatitis B and C. A more generalised discussion on
home testing took place including that for LFTs. It was felt there
may be an impact on patient safety.
GF raised the issue of shortage of members of SE England Regional
Council and asked for clarification on numbers that could be co-opted.
The current constitution allows for 12 members, 3 co-optees and
any number of observers felt necessary to achieve a balance on
Council.
Recertification would use a basically generic process, but with
specialty-specific tailoring. It should allow the identification
of problems early, with standards based on the GMC ‘good
medical practice’ document.
The IBMS would be setting up its own workforce database rather
than join the College’s.
‘The Professions under Siege’ questionnaire (for Clinical
Biochemists) would be redrafted and circulated in Spring 2008.
A similar survey would be undertaken for Haematology.
Regional Councils would be invited to be involved in developing
Regional Histopathology Research Collaboratives.
Sudden infant death tissue sampling would be discussed at a HTA
meeting later today.
Examiners for the College are currently receiving training.
A number of places on Council will be coming up next year.
Appointments as Specialty adviser are for a 3 year term, although
this may be renewed with agreement.
A survey of training in blood transfusion had been undertaken.
Concerns were expressed about training in blood transfusion in
both hospitals and Transfusion Centres.
National Pathology week was being developed. Finance had been
raised. Local volunteers were being asked for through Regional
Councils and Clinical tutors. A number of events would be occurring
within the new College Education Centre.
Second report by Tooke on Clinical Effectiveness and Audit has
been published.
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