1.

Apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mike Creasy, Lorraine Gaunt, Ros Hastings, Peter Howard, Lyndsey Connell, Val Davison, Edna Maltby and Chris Wragg

2.

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 16 March 2004

4.2 Add ‘to’ so sentence reads “Individual lab names and passwords will then be issued to all laboratories in due course.”

4.4 Delete ‘for’ Line now reads “FISH – will include both Constitutional and Haematological.”

5.3.1 Delete ‘the’ Sentence now reads “Most respondents were in favour of option 2 put forward in the consultation document.”

5.3.3 Change ‘is’ to ‘if’ Sentence now reads “Mike Creasy commented that the ACC may need to register with the Data Protection Act (DPA) if ACC intends to extend the ….”

15.5 change ‘ACC representative to European Cytogenetics Association’ to ‘Board Member’

15.7 Delete ‘Council agreed to fill the JLC post this year.’

3.

Safety Advisor’s Report

There was no report.

4.

NEQAS

There was no report.

5.

Education and Training

5.1

ACC Prenatal Study

Working group members:  Allan Caine (chair), John Crolla, Edna Maltby, Tony Parkin, Jonathan Waters.

Allan Caine and Tony Parkin presented preliminary data from the national audit of prenatal data (rapid testing and karyotyping). A great deal had been done in 6 weeks and the group are looking to complete by the end of June. The study had been precipitated by the National Screening Committee’s statement that for new screening programmes only a rapid test is required.  There was discussion about how to present the data and that the false positive and false negative rates were important for both tests together with how many other abnormalities would be missed if only a rapid test was offered.

It was agreed that the results from the study should be published as a neutral audit but that it would stimulate debate. The paper will be formulated for Lancet and forwarded to Council for comment prior to submission for publication. It was hoped that it could be completed by the end of June.  TP thanked AC for the work he and the group had done so far.

Action:  AC and members of the working group.

5.2

HHS tabled an anonymous letter that she had received from a concerned group of junior members. They were worried that karyotyping would only be required to investigate abnormalities detected by array based techniques and the impact that rapid QF-PCR replacing prenatal karyotyping would have on staffing levels.

There was discussion revolving around the continued requirement for karyotyping and how cytogenetics laboratories are taking on molecular techniques. KS stated it is recognised that trainees should receive training in molecular techniques, and that this will sit comfortably within the academic content of the new vocational degree. The ACC will be defining the content of this degree which will produce genetic scientists, who will receive commonality of training. Current B-grade scientists should be involved in the interpretation of results and project work rather than having a technical role. Junior members should also take some responsibility for their own education and training.

It was noted that Salisbury are organising a course on new techniques and that the Sanger Centre offers more hands-on courses.

TP commented that the vocational degree provides more opportunity to add modules. At the moment molecular cytogenetics is compulsory, molecular genetics is not compulsory as there are some problems in delivering the training. However it is important that clinical scientists do have the knowledge base to be able to interpret results. Molecular techniques are not a major threat to the profession, but the timing is right to influence the future.

Action:  ADM to write a response to the letter for comment by Council prior to dissemination to junior members.

5.3

Professional Standards Committee

5.3.1

The next workshop will be a review of the Professional Guidelines and will take place in Sheffield during July/August.   This will be followed by a prenatal workshop focusing on strategic issues in September/October.  The Committee is seeking a volunteer to organise this workshop

5.3.2

RH reported that Gordon Lowther has been replaced on the Committee. There were three volunteers. Zoe Docherty has been invited to take over from GL and Sarah Ryley will be invited to replace Val Davison in 2005.

5.3.3

A best practice workshop on rapid QF-PCR was hosted by Cathy Mann at Guy’s Hospital on 15 April on behalf of the CMGS and ACC. 

Action:   Secretary to check with Cathy Mann on progress of report from meeting and arrangements for publication.

5.4

ETC

KS circulated an ETC report prior to the meeting.

5.4.1

White Paper Trainers and Trainees

Two letters containing details about the trainer and trainee posts from the DH were circulated. Trainee recruitment should have started. The job descriptions of the Regional Trainers have still to be agreed with DH, who are still awaiting a response from CMGS.

Two project manager posts have been established by Sue Hill to take forward vocational degrees that will be the recognised qualification for registration.

JW asked what the time scale was for appointing to the trainer posts. KS stated that they were just waiting for the go-ahead from the DH, and that she hoped the trainers would be in place in the Autumn.

5.4.2

A Grade Training

The second residential course was held in Newcastle and covered Prenatal and Oncology modules. Initial feedback on course content and organisation was good. Course content is available on the ETC website.

5.4.3

MTO training

A national approach to MTO training was agreed and will run alongside the process towards registration. A technical study day is planned.

5.4.4

MRCPath

55% pass rate for the written exam (10/18).  All 10 passed the practical.

5.4.5

Training Web Site

Gavin Cuthbert has developed a website that will contain information and training material for the profession. It is hoped that other laboratories will contribute training material as well as presentations/handouts from study days. Access is password protected and only available to UK labs. The password has been distributed to all HoDs.

UKNEQAS pathway cases will be made available online after they have been used.

KS asked council to acknowledge the work GC has put into setting up and maintaining the website.

5.5

ACC Membership

Council need to inform the membership over the decision to invite graduate technical staff to join the ACC. A letter will be sent to all HoDs asking them to invite graduate technical staff to join as members of the ACC. It will also seek expressions of interest for council and ETC membership.

There is a meeting in Birmingham on 24 June with the DoH regarding the launch of a voluntary registration council for technical staff. RM and Eileen Roberts are to attend for the ACC. Two technical grade staff will also attend, Frankie Shaw from Cambridge and Michelle Fenlon from Birmingham.

Action RM to write letter to HoDs.

5.5.1

Membership Form

BSHG are to edit the membership form so that grade information can be collected.

5.5.2

Membership Secretary

NT volunteered to take on the role of membership secretary.

Action:  Secretary to provide NT with a copy of the database.

5.6

Since the last meeting 5 PCCCs and a DipACC have been awarded.

6

Chairs Report

6.1

ACS

The last meeting was held on 1 April. There is ongoing work to demonstrate that all registered Clinical Scientists are at Masters level. This started with the Biochemists and the Physicists, and Sue Hill now wants it extended to the rest of the disciplines.

6.2

HPC

The HPC are consulting on a restructuring of the register. It is possible that CS and BMS become part of a HCS register. This move is not supported by the ACC or ACS. The two groups have different qualifications and professional requirements.

There has been a consultation document on how the HPC can link in to education and training. ACC and ACS have responded by saying that it is essential that professional bodies are involved in setting the curriculum and monitoring standards.

6.3

FHCS

The last meeting was on 26 April.  TP was unable to attend.

6.4

IT in Genetics

This meeting was held on 30 April. The Manchester Reference Laboratory is to produce an OBS (output based specification) that all Genetics systems should meet. This should enable different systems to communicate. The OBS will be put together over the next 12 months.

6.5

BSHG Council meeting 13 May, JCMG  meeting 20 May

6.5.1

Down Screening

TP raised concern that NSC statement on rapid testing had been made with no consultation with the professional bodies. The introduction of the holding statement has lead to a two tier system. Ron Zimmerman was present at the BSHG meeting and DH representatives and a representative from NSC (Postnatal screening) were present at JCMG.

6.5.2

Human Tissue Bill

Both meetings also discussed the Human Tissue Bill, the report stage of which has not yet been scheduled. Lobbying has led to some amendments being proposed. Ron Zimmerman reported that the bill is difficult to read.  It would potentially criminalise lab workers who carry out tests without consent, and not clinicians who request those tests. This would have ramifications for the storage of cells/samples by laboratories.

KS asked if referral cards will need to be changed to indicate consent has been given.  In London region consent forms have been collected so that a generic consent form can be produced. However this has been put on hold pending the outcome of the Human Tissue Bill.

6.5.3

BSHG Time Out

This is planned for 7-8 July in Manchester.

Action: TP and KW to attend on behalf of the ACC.

6.5.4

Differential Subscriptions

There was not much support for differential subscriptions. There will be a single membership fee for all members.

6.5.5

HTA

The BSHG is considering joining the HTA affiliate scheme. This will allow it to directly influence research bids. If BSHG joins a representative would be required to sit on the Diagnosis Panel.

6.5.6

BSHG Vice Chair

Nominations are required for the BSHG vice chair.

6.5.7

JCMG

There will be a meeting in Birmingham to set up a multidisciplinary training panel for non-geneticists. VD to attend.

National Tariffs.  It is not sure when they will be introduced.

Currencies – further work has been agreed. CMGS are trying to benchmark the cost of a minute, however further work is required to agree the WLUs for basic tests.

6.6

CMGS

TP attended their HoDs away day on 19 May. They discussed the cytogenetics AfC profiles and will try to match to them.

7

GenCAG

No report

8

Scientific Committee

8.1

UKCGG

Do not meet until November

8.2

Chromosome Abnormality Database

CAD has received funding for 4 years from Birth Defects (£150,000).

9

RCPath Report

John Old is stepping down as the chief examiner, and a replacement will be required.

10

JLC Report

10.1

Recruitment & Retention of HCS

HHS circulated a report from this meeting held on 30 March.

10.2

Questionnaire

14 labs responded. There were 157 junior members, and all those who were eligible for registration were registered. 58% of technical staff were also surveyed. They are currently unregistered, but there was support for registration.

Junior members thought that the portfolio was not easy to prepare and that there was not much information on registration on the ACC website. It was also asked if the venue for registration interviews could be regional.  Many thought that there was a lack of guidance on content and wondered whether a successful cytogenetics portfolio could be published on the website. Some members commented that there should be standardisation of questions at assessment.

RH reported that the portfolios he had seen were consistent in presentation and format. He thought that standardised questions were not appropriate as candidates are assessed in light of their experience.  The ACS is looking at quality of assessment across the modalities.

There have been some communication problems with final assessments, but these have been resolved.

10.3

Acronym List

This will appear in the BSHG newsletter as a JLC article.

10.4

Spring Conference

The JLC expressed their thanks to the Leeds lab for accommodating their workshop and informal session.

11

Treasurers Report

11.1

ACC Spring Conference, York

The York meeting showed a healthy profit, due to a good response from the trade sector. The financial situation is very secure, and the ACC can afford to fund some one off costs. Future Spring Meetings can probably afford slightly more risk in their budgets. It was suggested that outline budgets should be sent to the treasurer to help set registration costs..

KS said that the £1800 from new trainees may not cover the full cost of the trainee and training for trainers courses.

11.2

Travel Bursaries

JW suggested that £2500 be made available annually to provide up to 10 travel bursaries for meetings outside the UK. The bursaries would be made available for those making presentations and for more junior members.

Action:  JW, RH and GL to formulate criteria for ratification at September Council meeting and to sit on panel making decisions.

12

Correspondence

KW has received an e-mail response from Lorraine Gaunt (Chair of DH Genetics Assessors) regarding Council’s query over the B8-10 assessment post AfC.   It was noted that the future of assessors after AfC is still unclear and their role is under review pending the implementation of AfC.

After discussion council thought that the use of DH assessors for A to B appointments was discretionary.

13

Matters arising

13.1

5.1.4

13.2

5.3.3 RH said that the BSHG are covered by the Birmingham Women’s Hospital Data Protection Act registration. However they are completing forms for their own cover.

13.3

LC has sent the list of 10 eminent cytogeneticists to Peter Harper.

13.4

The consultation document has been removed from the website.

13.5

MC is to retire as the webmaster.

Action: Secretary to put in next newsletter that any member willing to be the new webmaster/mistress should contact MC.

13.6

The next ECA board meeting is in Munich. It is hoped to hold a joint ACC/ECA meeting in 2007 or 2009.

13.7

KW said that she would represent the ACC on GenCAG if she was not secretary.

Action:  Secretary to ask VD to stand in temporarily.

13.8

A new trustee is required to replace MC.

Action:  Chair

14

Applications for membership

14 new members have been admitted, 13 A grades and 1 B grade.

15

Any other business

15.1

No nominations for secretary had been received. It would be helpful if nominees have been ordinary members..

Action: Chair

15.2

VD is to be the ACC representative on NQAAP.

15.3

The CSO conference in July clashes with the BSHG awayday. A volunteers is required to attend.

15.4

The CSO bulletin can be found at http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/csobulletin/index.htm.

15.5

There are to be a series of Royal College of Pathology named lectures. One will be hosted at the ACC Spring Meeting in Salisbury, it will be a keynote speech focusing on updates in haematology.

15.6

TP congratulated the Leeds laboratory on its hosting of the ACC Spring Conference.

16

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on 7 September and will be held in Birmingham. Action VD.

The meeting closed at 3:30pm.