NEWS
IBMS commissions UK-wide review of pathology
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) has announced that it has commissioned Lord Patrick Carter to lead an independent UK-wide review of pathology services to benchmark today’s services and workforce to guide tomorrow’s decisions. Lord Carter was chosen by the IBMS Council as his experience of national NHS reviews is expected to deliver an independent, rigorous, authoritative assessment that will be heard at the highest levels. The IBMS is aiming to establish a clear, shared baseline for the decade ahead which will serve to guide future policy. IBMS President Joanna Andrew commented: “This review is about giving the profession the strong evidence it needs to thrive in the years ahead. By building a clear picture of our services and workforce, we can ensure the value of pathology is recognised, strengthen our sector, and ultimately deliver the best outcomes for patients.” The review will be undertaken in partnership with The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and Association for Laboratory Medicine (LabMed) in supporting roles. RCPath, LabMed and pathology transformation leaders from across the UK will support engagement and evaluation alongside the IBMS. The UK faces significant change in diagnostics, including the NHS England 10-year health plan. To make the right decisions for patients and professionals, the profession needs robust evidence on today’s services, workforce and quality – and the opportunities ahead. The review will be conducted with
support from NHS England and the health systems of the devolved nations through provision of available information shared solely for the purpose of the review and held under strictest terms of confidence. Crucially, the review will place equal emphasis on quality, patient benefit and clinical impact alongside productivity and finance. It will seek to ensure recommendations are grounded in robust, fair data that reflects the true value of pathology services to patient pathways and the wider NHS. The final report will provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to governments, commissioners, professional leaders and healthcare partners, supporting a sustainable, high-quality pathology service model.
EDITOR’S COMMENT Together as a profession
So another Congress is done and dusted, and from the whole Pathology in Practice team a heartfelt and sincere congratulations goes to the Institute of Biomedical Science for another hugely positive event.
I was lucky enough to hear directly from IBMS Chief Executive David Wells on the first morning of the event about what was in store, and to get more detail on the recently announced review of pathology service commissioned by the Institute. Visit our website to see that and a host of further video interviews from Congress, and you can read about the review – which is expected to report back in the first quarter of next year – elsewhere on this page.
In his interview – and also in his
presentation to the Plenary session of Congress – David highlighted the scant (or more often entirely absent) presence of biomedical scientists and pathology services in recent reports on the future of the NHS. With diagnostics only set to increase in importance with the three shifts detailed in the 10 Year Plan, the IBMS is taking the bull by the horns and making its own case – via the independent review to be produced by Lord Patrick Carter – of the key role that the profession will need to play in the future, and the resources needed to enable it. With this and other efforts over recent years to advocate for the biomedical
science profession, the IBMS does an excellent job for its members. Further emphasised by bringing the profession together in such fine style over the four days of Congress. The scientific programme was stronger and broader than ever before, with the organisers’ efforts in this area met with a record number of registrations. If one were to judge the profession on the four days of Congress – and major events are often the best such opportunity – then it is currently looking forward to a challenging period with a very positive attitude. Congress was a wonderful experience
for PiP too. It’s always great to meet readers, contributors and advertisers alike and for us to feel at the centre of something. We had lots of positive conversations and look forward to bringing our readers many interesting articles over the next few issues. We also tried to bring the event to those not at Birmingham via video interviews with the Chief Executive and President of the IBMS, and a cross section of exhibitors. All can be seen on our website.
Lots to enjoy in this issue, with subjects
ranging from improving blood services with innovative technology at South West London Pathology, risk-based audit schedules, a novel non-invasive biomarker for transplant monitoring, as well as a look at 25 years of the National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses.
andymyall@pathologyinpractice.com
Alzheimer’s blood test set for UK trial
A major trial supported by the University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre aims to transform the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease through a simple blood test. The University College London (UCL)-led trial is now welcoming its first participants who are being recruited via memory clinics across the UK. The ADAPT (Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Plasma pTau217) team, led by Professor Jonathan Schott and Dr Ashvini Keshavan (both UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) is investigating whether a blood test that measures the protein p-tau217 can improve the early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Demonstrating its value in clinical practice could help deliver earlier and fairer access to diagnosis and future treatments across the NHS.
The trial will examine whether providing
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the blood test results to patients and their clinicians near the start of an assessment for memory and thinking concerns is able to aid diagnosis and guide decisions on further investigations and treatments. The study aims to recruit 1,100 participants through NHS memory services and will include people from diverse geographic, ethnic and economic backgrounds, and those living with other health conditions to ensure the findings are relevant and inclusive of the broader population. This landmark trial forms part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, a multi- million-pound programme supported by Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK and players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The initiative aims to determine if the blood test is reliable in a broad range of patients that would make it a form of diagnostics that matches the accuracy of current methods.
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