ACC Council Meeting
Hughes Parry Hall, Cartwright Gardens, London
Tuesday 6th June 2006
Tony Parkin (Chairman)
Teresa Davies (Secretary)
John Wolstenholme (JWo) (Treasurer)
Rob Morgan (Assistant Secretary)
Gordon Lowther, Lorraine Gaunt, Simon McCullough, Chris Wragg, Peter Howard, Hazel Harvey- Smith Jonathan Waters (JWa), Michelle Fenlon, John Crolla, Kim Smith, Fiona Harding, Amanda Dixon-McIver, Maj Hulten, Ros Hastings
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Apologies were received from Val Davison, Edna Maltby and Rod Howell.
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Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 7th March 2006
3.2.3 Change ‘…The focus is to be on what learned….’ to ‘…The focus is to be on what is learned…’
3.2.3 Change ‘….core KSF would not be relevant to CPD,’ to ‘…core KSF may not be the most important.’
3.5 Change Butler to Butcher
5.1 Change ‘…whether and HST…’ to ‘…whether an HST…’
5.5 Delete ‘Individuals were becoming younger and more junior some were even pre- registration.’ And add ‘ and some pre-registration individuals attended.’
6.0 Change Technical Training to Technical Report
6.1 Change ‘Scrutinising of applications…’ to ‘Initial scrutinising of applications…’
6.1 Change ‘…signed off by Heads of Departments.’ to ‘…supported by reference from Heads of Departments.’
6.1 Change ‘The application fee will initially be £40’ to ‘The application fee will initially be £45’
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3.1
ACS meeting and AGM 4 April 2006
TP didn’t attend, but received the minutes. The ACS is running smoothly and will have a role until at least 2012, when the first MSc trainees will graduate.
Fees to professional bodies have been increased by 3%.
Fees for applicants are to be maintained at the current level.
There was discussion of the RCPath toolkit for Higher Specialist Training. It was thought to be more applicable to the Life Sciences than Physicists or Physiologists, but was supported by ACS in principal and sent to the DH Workforce Team.
ACS is to formalise training of new assessors, they will sit in on at least one assessment and will be paired with an experienced assessor.
The ACS is to look at the audit of CPD by HPC. Some dummy portfolios have been collected and they will be put on the ACS website. HPC have published guidance for CPD on their website.
3.2
FHCS
There has been no meeting since the last Council meeting.
ACC has paid the £510 subscription, and told FHCS it will be keeping progress under review.
3.3
ACC Heads of Departments meeting
This meeting was well attended and brought HoDs up-to-date with training, cancer genetics and the future direction of cytogenetics.
- There was support for the drafting of a National Service Specification.
- There was support for a statement of the direction of travel for cytogenetics, including
- future directions
- techniques
- skill mix
- training requirements
Louise Newport felt that the National Specification would help the DH, and suggested that the ACC should develop links to key committees, e.g. cancer.
There was discussion about how to co-ordinate and specify a ‘cytogenetics chip’ for micro-array, without being tied into a single supplier.
Angela Douglas is leading a task group to examine the extent to which automation is helping cytogenetics. A web-based questionnaire is to be launched.
Frustration was expressed about pre-registration training and the MSc. Louise Newport advised that the ACC shouldn’t wait for the restructuring.
No advisors are in place yet for the HCS careers framework. Assessors were part of the Whitley Council process. The ACC has not been asked to identify advisors.
Nick Telford is leading a group to audit compliance with the 2004 Cancer Manual standards. The standards include Cancer centres with Haemato-oncology designated cytogenetics laboratories, and centres working towards integrated reports/opinions.
KS thought there should be a role for cytogeneticists signing off the cytogenetics part of the report.
TP stated that we need to collect data to show interest in the standards, which can then be used as a route to the DH. Nick Telford is to circulate a questionnaire to all departments, with results coming back to Council.
3.4
Data Standards
The Manchester Reference laboratory has previously produced an OBS, and has now produced a data dictionary and data set to guide fields required in any database software. They had originally wanted a workshop to discuss this, but it will now be handled by a meeting between TP, Andrew Devereux and Sue Stenhouse (CMGS).
JC reported that the first tranche of laboratories have bid for Star LIMS based on the data dictionary. The package includes ongoing development and training, and complies with the Connecting for Health and Genetics OBSs. It is possible for laboratories to design their own output.
3.5
Commissioning Specialist Services
Review of commissioning arrangements for specialised services was published in May. TP thought a number of the recommendations were particularly important
17 – Designation of Specialised Service Providers
22 – Specialised Services National Definition set
23 – Payment by results
25 – Audit (of specialised service provision)
It was thought that responding may be useful.
3.6
Louise Newport has been promoted and will now be working in Radiology and Toxicology. She will not be replaced in the Genetics Unit.
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TP thanked the working group, whose paper was circulated prior to the Council meeting.
Chair and Vice Chair – elected by council
Treasurer and Secretary – directly elected by membership
The Vice-Chair will be elected one year before the Chair steps down, and will then normally take over as Chair.
As now, serve up to 5 years with no voting rights. They do however hold the ultimate veto and can close the society down.
As now, directly elected by membership. Serves 3 years
Directly elected by membership, serves 3 years
Sub-committees
It was agreed that the following sub-committees were essential:-
Education & Training committee
Junior Membership Committee
Professional Standards Committee
Association of Genetic Technologists
There was discussion about the proposed Strategic Development committee, which had been proposed at the Heads of Departments meeting. Council had reservations about this committee. LG suggested that HoDs meetings could be held more often, and that they could have a maintenance and strategic role. Inviting the DH to attend also makes it easier to communicate with policy makers. JWo pointed out that it had become difficult to organise the Scientific Committee, but it could be reformed for specific tasks, and that this could be the model for the Strategic Development Committee.
Co-opted members
CMGS – invited observer. Would require reciprocity. Action TP to discuss with CMGS
Sub-Committee remits
Detail is required on:
1. How members join a sub-committee.
2. How Council recognise the membership of the sub-committee.
3. How the chair is chosen.
The Sub-committee requires a Chair and Secretary (who will also act as the Deputy Chair).
AGT – Joint structure (with CMGS) of 10 members, representing technologists and support workers. Cytogenetics members must be members of the ACC.
Professional Standards Committee – Chair, NEQAS representative and four others. More detail is required for the remit.
Strategic Development Committee – As and when required.
There was discussion about how the Chair should be selected within various sub-committees. It was suggested that if the sub-committee is a working group for Council, then Council should select the Chair. For representative groups, such as JLC and AGTC, then they should elect their own Chair, but that Council should retain a right to veto. LG suggested that Council could advertise, with a person specification, as a way of attracting new faces. KS felt that sub-committees should report back regularly, possibly working to an annual work plan. Council should agree the direction of travel and priorities of the sub-committees.
A number of elected members are required in addition to the elected officers.
An implementation plan will be required if the changes are to go ahead
Actions
JLC to produce a remit for ratification by Council
Resolutions to be prepared for AGM – PH /TP
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KS circulated the ETC report prior to the meeting
5.1
LG suggested that the HST representative could be the same as the RCPath SAC HST representative, and Council agreed that Sian Morgan should be invited to join ETC.
The role of the junior representative would be to advise on post registration training issues.
Genetic Technologist representative will be Sarah Keyne.
Steve Morris, who provides careers advice and promotional leaflets is to be invited to join ETC.
Action KS to invite Sian Morgan and Steve Morris to join ETC.
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
12 trainees have been funded from Autumn 2006.
5.6
Andrew Butcher has been commissioned by the DH to provide a scoping report on Pre-registration training. After visiting laboratories he produced a draft report. KS reported that they had fed back on some of the concerns they had with the draft. AB confirmed that laboratories would deliver a significant amount of the training. The new set up is likely to start in 2009, with the first exit in 2012.
5.7
KS will be attending this meeting.
5.8
The draft revision was circulated prior to the meeting. Council agreed to remove the experiments and audit from each module. There will now be a single audit and a single project.
For labs offering a leukaemia service, core training will consist of Introduction and Postnatal followed by Basic Prenatal and Leukaemia (the latter in any order), all with relevant molecular techniques. For labs not offering a leukaemia service core training will consist of Introduction and Postnatal followed by Advanced Foetal Investigations, again including relevant molecular techniques. It was pointed out that laboratories should not need to provide theory training for trainees.
LG asked if any body was writing KSF outlines for trainees and it seemed that nobody was.
KS would like to launch the new programme in the Autumn. LG asked if trainees in post could choose to work to the new scheme, while new starters had to work to the new scheme. This was agreed.
5.9
TP has signed four PCCCs since March
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6.1
Launched 25 April 2006. Some application forms have been sent out. There will be a training meeting for scrutinisers in June, but some ACS assessor help may still be required.
The initial application fee will be £45.
A website has been set up, it contains FAQ, links to the professional bodies, and will also contain Standards for the Profession.
6.2
This will be run on 28 June in Birmingham. Details have been sent to the Heads of Laboratories.
It is hoped that at least 1 MTO plus training officer/Head of Laboratory will attend from each laboratory. TP, KS, Sue Stenhouse and David Batty will all speak. MF asked if BSHG application forms could be available at the meeting.
6.3
MF asked if there could be a section on the website for the AGTC.
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7.1
It has not been possible to ratify the audit as members of the committee are on leave.
7.2
These are with the PSC.
7.3
Due to problems with the on-line submissions, there will be manual collection. Data for 04/05 and 05/06 will be collected in August/September.
7.4
It was asked if there could be guidance on the appropriate grade for authorising reports. TP reported that this is not available in the NOS or HCS career framework documentation.
LG stated that the CPA view was that it should be done at the independent practitioner level. Their definition of the independent practitioner level was state registration. RHa asked if council could define what was the correct level. LG felt this would be good for the profession and said that very few laboratories used staff at B16 and below to authorise reports. It is the remit of the Best Practice group to counsel the appropriate grade for authorising reports
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There has been no meeting since March as there were insufficient agenda items.
There will be some discussion of reporting time standards when they next meet. The only published standards are in the White paper, and GenCAG is expecting to be approached for advice.
The lead on tariffs has been passed onto Jackie Westwood. Katie Waters is leading the ACCs work on tariffs and has suggested that they could be piloted during 2007
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9.1
The report of the UKCGG meeting was circulated by ADM prior to the meeting.
9.2
A paper on the CVS database is to appear in Prenatal Diagnosis’.
9.3
9.31
Expect ISCN 2005 to be applied in the laboratory from April 2006, penalties for not using it will be enforced from October 2006.
9.32
RHa gave feedback from the participants meeting. UK income is down, as the number of participating laboratories has decreased. About £35,000 is raised from non-UK sources, and this helps to keep the scheme going.
9.4
9.41
MH reported that she was a member of this unit. They were going to investigate kits for aneuploidy screening, but only one manufacturer answered the call.
9.42
RHa distributed a presentation about Eurogentest
A questionnaire should be distributed to all Heads of Laboratories
There is to be a new European Cytogenetics EQA scheme. A need has been identified for reference material, particularly for QFPCR, MLPA and arrays. It may be possible to use the reference laboratories for this.
It may be possible to produce some generic SOPs.
Eurogentest offers some practical workshops in accreditation and internal audits, these cost about Ï300.
In December 2006 FP7 will call for collaboration (which will provide funding) on:-
Optimising delivery of Healthcare to European citizens
Transition of research to core technology
Information and communication technologies
Basic research
Training and career development
Research for and by S/Mes (Small to Medium enterprises)
FW7 will offer opportunities for Special Advances in Fetomaternal Medicine (SAFE)
9.5
The ESHG is looking for collaborators for its next meeting, and it is possible there could be some satellite meetings.
9.6
The cytogenetics scheme will be assessed for accreditation on November 1st and 2nd.
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10.1
Report by Jonathan Waters
10.1.1
Feedback to the SAC from the Joint Committee on Medical Genetics
10.1.1.1
John Crolla is to lead a sub-committee reporting to JCMG on the implications of the HTA (2004) for Genetics laboratories. It will draw up Genetics specific guidelines based on the Codes of Practice published by the Human Tissue Authority. They should report before the act comes in to force on 1 September 2006.
10.1.1.2
The document has been printed and should be distributed shortly.
10.1.3
John Crolla and John Old have been invited to a Skills for Health meeting arranged by Pippa Hodgson to look at Modernisation of Pre-Registration Training for Clinical Scientists.
10.1.4
This small subspecialty has been active in developing web-based training initiatives that are being nationally co-ordinated. Dr George Gray (Birmingham) identified the website as: www.metbio.net, which may provide ideas for the development of training within our profession.
10.1.5
The recent meeting of this committee indicated that there might be a need to ensure that there is a genetics input into the collation of datasets (e.g. neuroblastoma). John Old (Chair, Genetics SAC) to raise at next P/P/P P SAC meeting.
10.1.6
The College is proposing to merge the ‘MRCPath’ and ‘FRCPath’ membership categories for members who have completed all parts of the examination pathway and designate them as fellows (‘FRCPath’). Pressure for change has arisen because of international confusion over the two existing categories of membership and lack of clarity over what is meant by ‘in good standing’ to allow transition from Member to Fellow.
10.1.7
The Part 1 examination format changes would be implemented in 2007 with the written exam in the Spring and the practical in the Autumn. There would be greater emphasis on short answer questions in the written exam to allow more of the syllabus to be covered. College guidelines will be updated and available on their website.
In the recent Part 1 examinations 4 cytogeneticists gained Part 1.
The examiners report will be published in the October Newsletter.
10.1.8
The trainee representatives (Jenny Bell, Sian Morgan) on the SAC are proposing to organise a Genetics Symposium, 'Not in the Textbooks for Clinical Scientists' on Thursday, 25th October 2007 at RCPath, London. Any suggestions on content should be addressed to them.
Currently there is no formal registration scheme with the college for registered clinical scientists in training. Such a scheme may be of value but needs to be given careful consideration, as it is likely to require clinical scientist trainees to pay a registration fee.
10.1.9
This has been revised under the chairmanship of John Old, and will be published on the Colleges website.
10.1.10
Nothing new to report
10.1.11
Nothing new to report
MH is to write a paper on DS screening for Prenatal Diagnosis.
10.1.12
Dr Lorraine Gaunt as the co-opted Cytogenetics representative would be coming to the end of her term of office on the committee in November 2006. Council asked if LG was willing to stand for a further term, to which she agreed.
10.1.13
LG reported.
Clinical Science workforce planning has shown a bimodal distribution, with many women in training and HST, but with large numbers of men about to retire.
There is to be a meeting for workforce planning in Cytogenetics and Molecular genetics. The college wants to use a model to predict trends in the next 10 years.
A decision on central purchasing for pathology by PASA has been deferred until a review of PASA has been completed.
10.1.14
Publication of clinical guidelines (e.g. Clinical guideline for idiopathic mental retardation) is being explored. The Manchester NRGL may be used as a clearing house for these. BSHG and CGS are providing £4000 each to fund this. It is possible that some laboratory guidelines may also be published.
10.1.15
Diane Kennard has received 20 applications for the Chair of Pharmacogenetics created in the White Paper.
10.1.16
Draft guidelines are available on the website and are before parliament. Once passed they will become definitive. The act comes into force on 1 September 2006.
Trusts will require only one license per institution, and these cost £4000. There is some confusion over which tissues require licensing. A small working group, including John Crolla, is to publish Genetic specific guidelines.
10.1.17
There is to be a meeting at the college on 14 June on how to evaluate and introduce new diagnostic tests. This follows some problems with the introduction of her2 testing. It was felt that cytogenetics needs to be actively involved in the introduction of new tests.
Research and development funding is to be pulled back into the centre, and the strongest bids maybe those which are multi-centre or multi-professional.
10.2
Nothing to report, awaiting minutes
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11.1