1

Apologies

Selwyn ROBERTS. 

2

Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on Tuesday 3^rd September 2002

The minutes were accepted as an accurate record.

3

Safety Advisor's Report

No report had been received.

4

NEQAS/CPA

NEQAS

Val Davison reported that Dr Ros Hastings has been appointed subject to UKNEQAS Board approval as full time scheme organiser and will be based in Oxford.

A skeleton scheme is running at present. There has been a delay in sending out the prenatal assessment round. Reference material suitable for a slide distribution is being collected for a post-natal assessment.

Teresa Davies is due to stand down as chairman of the Steering Committee, and there is some difficulty finding a replacement. Secretary is to write to Teresa to discover what progress has been made, and also to obtain details of the remit of the post and the person specification. The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for 15 January 2003.

Action: Secretary to write to Teresa Davies

Lorraine Gaunt reported that the Heads of Departments had indicated that they would not object to an increase in NEQAS fees.

Nick Telford reported on progress with the haematology scheme. The AML pilot round is to be reported soon and there will be a skeleton round for ALL if approval is obtained from the steering committee. In line with the constitutional schemes there is to be a move towards using reference material for assessment.

CPA

Lorraine Gaunt reported that the SAC in Genetics, as have all other SACs, has been disbanded, and replaced by a single PAC (Professional Advisory Committee). The committee has 15 members, a consultant and MLSO from each discipline, a consultant clinical scientist for Genetics (LG) and the CPA directors. A network of experts in each discipline is to be maintained.

5

Education & Training / Professional Standards Committee

a

Education & Training

Kim Smith reported that the ETC had not met since the last ACC committee meeting. However Education and Training was discussed at the recent Heads of Department meeting. The Heads of Department were informed of the estimated need to double the trainee intake of Clinical Scientists to 40 trainees a year. Also a recent questionnaire circulated to trainees and Heads of Departments identified some training issues for the profession, including an increase in A Grade trainees, funding for trainers and funding for the delivery of training.

A consequence of a change to training delivery would be an increase in the registration fee for trainees.

Assessments

It was agreed at the HoD meeting to reduce the number of ETC led external assessments, with quality being monitored and maintained by the laboratories providing training. This would become effective for Autumn 2003 intake.

Delivery of A Grade Training

The profession needs to consider how A-grade training will be delivered in the future. Analytical training will still require laboratory based training, but there are options for academic training, e.g. an academic partner, self learning or a form of e-learning. It is hoped that this will reduce the training workload on the laboratories. Lorraine Gaunt raised the idea of centralised training, or alternatively local training with regular ACC led residential courses. Pilot courses would need to be put together quickly for 2003-4. Funding and delivery will need to be discussed with the WDCs. There was some discussion about a two year MSc course, with the first year at an academic centre. It was felt by the Heads of Departments that this may produce some problems with ownership of the trainees, but they gave some approval for following this up. Lorraine is to liase with the Chairman of the Chief Executive Group of the WDCs and a Making the Change project manager. Val Davison will talk to Sue Hill.

Action: Chair, Val Davison

Prof Ferguson Smith suggested that we make use of the Genetics Knowledge Parks, and it was agreed that it may be worth approaching them.

Katie Waters said that there was a Pathology based e-learning pilot scheme being developed, but this was aimed at bio-medical scientists.

Training Period

There was some discussion about delivering training over four years so that State registration would become one of the exit qualifications rather than the current two year core training

MTO Training

Pilot studies are still continuing and should be completed early next year. Feedback will be given by Val Davison to Council in 2003.

A letter had been received from Chair of CMGS TAB asking us to work with them towards MTO state registration. Chair has responded supporting the proposal.

B-Grade Training

This is based mainly around study days and CPD at present. There are a number of MRCPath study groups around the country. Kim Smith asked if the ETC should become more pro-active with these groups. It was agreed that we should wait and see; the local groups are currently working well together and the profession may try to take on too much

The next ETC meeting is in January, and will identify appropriate membership of sub-committees to take forward the ideas from the Heads of Department meeting

Action: Kim Smith, Chair of ETC

b

Professional Standards Committee

Katie Waters reported that Edna Maltby plans to recruit two new members to the committee, the NEQAS Organiser and a UKCCG member. Council approved these nominations. This would give a standing committee of six. The first committee meeting is scheduled for January and the committee are open to suggestions for topics.

Action: Secretary to write to Edna Maltby informing of approval of nominations

6

Chair's Report

a

British Society for Human Genetics  

Report by John Wolstenholme

1. There has been discussion about education and science

2. There is to be an increase in fees of £10.00 of which £5.00 will go to the constituent societies. John Wolstenholme to consult the rules to see if any notice is required to increase ACC fees.

b

Joint Committee on Medical Genetics  

Report by Katie Waters.

The JCMG met on 22 October. This was the last meeting chaired by Peter Farndon. He will be replaced by Heather Skirton.

The main point for discussion was the Confidentiality and Consent document, the final amendments will be made by Peter Farndon prior to a wider dissemination of the document.

Steve Abbs reported that a document on Laboratory Scientist Training has been prepared by JCMG working party and will be circulated to the Chief Executives of the Workforce Development Confederations. Contract currencies proposals are now with the commissioners and progress is being followed by the DoH.

A green paper is to be published in early 2003, mainly aimed at getting genetics knowledge into the wider community.

c

Association of Clinical Scientists  

The ACS met on 26 November. Lorraine Gaunt reported that Peter Sharp (Physicist) and Mike Hallworth are working with the QAA to define proficiencies for Clinical Scientists on behalf of the HPC.

Assessors from all disciplines met in the afternoon so that the process could be explained and clarified. One cytogenetics application has been received to date.

Kim Smith asked if there would be guidance on portfolios for pre-registration scientists, and if the format would be disseminated. Lorraine Gaunt replied that the discipline specific competencies on the website should be used as a guide and that a template for a portfolio would soon be available on the ACS website. It was pointed out that the assessment was not academic, but an assessment of experience.

d

Health Professions Council

HPC consultation is now finished and feedback will be given on 6 December in Cardiff. Mike Creasy is to attend on behalf of the ACC.

Action: Mike Creasy

It seems likely that HPC will be given final approval from the Privy Council early next year, when its own protocols and policies will be run out, gradually replacing those of the CPSM. Closure of title is expected in from April 2003. Closure of employment would follow. Anyone employed as a clinical scientist and carrying out the duties of a clinical scientist will legally need to be State registered. All staff who are eligible for State Registration should be encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The next round of assessments for which new applicants are eligible is June.

e

National Occupational Standards

National Occupational Standards are being field tested in about 23 disciplines, until 15 December. Only 6 cytogenetics laboratories are participating, St Mary's Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, GOS, Glasgow and Liverpool. The response is disappointing bearing in mind their potential importance. All laboratories are urged to become involved in further testing between January and March 2003.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, launch and field testing conferences will be held in the near future. (The Scottish launch is 11 December in Glasgow). The Health Department in Wales is currently holding discussions about NOS. Field testing in these countries is expected to take place between January and March.

Members of council pointed out that the standards that were sent to participating laboratories were not the correct version.

f

Agenda for Change

Following the completion of negotiations limited information is available on the AfC website. www.doh.gov.uk/agendaforchange/ The only cytogenetics laboratory which will be amongst the early implementers is Guy's

g

Federation for Healthcare Science

There was a federation workshop held in Leeds on 6 November in conjunction with the DoH. It was relatively poorly attended and there are concerns about societies' commitment to the Federation. The DoH is making it clear that this will be the only conduit between itself and the Healthcare Science Professions

h

Healthcare Science Week

Richard Hall attended a feedback meeting on 18 November. The meeting, chaired by Anthony Walsh, was poorly attended and disjointed. A number of initiatives have been launched, including the Cumbria One in a Million CD. In the future it is hoped to involve Higher Education, Government Ministers, etc in raising the profile of Healthcare Science.

The DoH have provisionally booked Healthcare Science awareness week beginning 17 November 2003. There will be a meeting on 10 February and Richard Hall volunteered to represent the ACC.

Action Richard Hall

i

National Science Week

This will be the week beginning 7 March 2003

j

Making the Change Scotland

This is to be launched as Shaping the Future

7

Genetics Commissioning Advisory Group

Val Davison reported from a meeting held on 2 December

a

There was discussion of benchmarking genetics services

b

Genetic Testing Networks

This is primarily a molecular network. Maureen Boxer has been appointed the scientific lead. Two further managers are to be appointed.

c

Rapid Prenatal Diagnosis

The DoH has written to commissioners recommending that they provide funding for abnormal ultra sound cases.

8

 Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee currently has no chair following the resignation of Barbara Gibbons. Following the HoD meeting Rod Howell volunteered to Chair a working party to produce a document describing the constitution and remit of the Scientific Committee. This was discussed and Council members were asked to feedback back any comments to Rod Howell.

Rod Howell volunteered to produce an article and advertisement for chair of Scientific Committee for the next BSHG Newsletter.

Action: Rod Howell

Professor Ferguson Smith asked if the committee reviewed new developments, and also what opportunities there were for research and development. Rod Howell replied that diagnostic laboratories were committed to keeping diagnostic work going out. There are problems in getting funding for cytogenetic research, but that BSHG were meeting as a group with the HTA to get more money. Val Davison suggested that the Genetics Reference Laboratories should be approached for advice on taking research forward. It was noted that only one reference laboratory has a remit for cytogenetics.

Kim Smith reported that the CAD had been unsuccessful in gaining further funding. Rod Howell suggested that a Reference Laboratory could take over running the service. Kim Smith is to write to the Wessex Reference Laboratory and copy the letter to Marcia Fry (Chair GenCAG). Professor Ferguson Smith suggested that it may be possible to gain European funding for the database.

Action: Kim Smith

9

Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath)

Secretary reported on behalf of John Crolla

John Corolla is the Chair of SAC for Genetics.

A paper has been presented to the college executive on how Genetics will impact on the College. It focuses on post registration training of Clinical Scientists, the need for the College to improve communications with clinical scientists (who now make up 20% of the membership) and the desirability of plugging into the WDC for funding and support for candidates undertaking part 1 and 2. MRCPath is the professional qualification for Clinical Scientists in Genetics. The SAC will increase the genetics input into the Royal College Bulletin and on the college's website.

Jonathan Waters replaced Teresa Davies as ACC representative on the SAC

10

JLC Report

Una Maye stated that she has updated the JLC web page and that she will e-mail it to Mike Creasy. She will also produce an article on registration. John Barber has asked the JLC to contribute at the York meeting.

11

Report from the Treasurer 

John Wolstenholme reported that finances were healthy and there were no significant payments to be made. He is now invoicing for trainees fees and money is coming in. Laboratories should notify Heather Ward of new trainees employed

12

ACC Registered Office/Change of Meeting Venue

a

ACC Registered Office

John Wolstenholme has investigated the process of changing the Association's registered office given recent concerns about the IPPH and the increase in costs. Legally there do not appear to be any barriers and it was suggested that the Registered Office could to be changed to the BSHG office. JW will confirm that this would be acceptable with the BSHG and if so would instigate the change with the Registrar of Friendly Societies

Action: John Wolstenholme

b

Meetings Venue

Rob Morgan presented costs of a number of venues in London. The committee decided to try Canterbury Hall.

Action: Rob Morgan to book for the March Council meeting

13

ACC 25^th Anniversary

Mike Creasy reported that at the Spring meeting in Glasgow there will be a social occasion to mark the 25^th Anniversary of the ACC. There will also be a session which looks back over the 25 years. Founder members are to be approached for their memories and personal views, and any photographs.

14

Correspondence

a

Maggie Fitchett has written expressing her thanks and acceptance of Emeritus Fellow membership

b

The ECA has sent a QA questionnaire. This was completed and returned by Lorraine Gaunt and Teresa Davies. The results are to be presented in Bologna

15

Matters arising from the minutes of meeting held on 11 September not already covered on the agenda

Mike Creasy reported on the Website subcommittee meeting. The group suggested changing the web host to Fast Hosts, which Mike felt would give him more support. The group suggested that the site could provide officers of council and subcommittees with e-mail addresses (@cytogenetics.org.uk). Claire Scott is to be invited to be the deputy webmaster.

Web site content was discussed, and it was decided to try to archive newsletter items, provide pointers to what's new in the newsletter, a CAD search page, application forms for potential new members and committee expense forms and the AGM minutes. Also to be put on the website is an expanded scientific content, ACC publications and reports. The Down Syndrome Register is also to be offered space.

A small business website would cost £250, but would allow for further expansion of the website.

The subcommittee is to meet again at the Spring Meeting.

Action Mike Creasy

b

Lorraine Gaunt and Rob Morgan are still to discuss the careers leaflet with Gavin Cuthbert

16

Applications for membership

There have been 9 applications for membership all of which were approved. Of these six were A grades, two were B grades and one was from overseas.

17

AOB

a

It was agreed that The UKCGG should report under the Scientific Committee item.

b

It was noted that the Haematology NOS contain some cytogenetic competencies

c

The dates of meetings in 2003 are:-

18

Date and Time of the Next Meeting

Tuesday 18 March, 2003 at 11.15