SPAN Launch meeting 02 May 2006
- Alistair Robertson (PowerPoint)
- Derek Bishop (PowerPoint)
- Frank Carey (PowerPoint)
- Jeremy Thomas (PowerPoint)
- Jocelyn Imrie (PowerPoint)
- Margaret Balsitis (PowerPoint)
- Questions Raised (PowerPoint)
- Ruth Adamson (PowerPoint)
- All Presentations (ZIP)
The Scottish Pathology Network Launch meeting took place in the Steel Rooms at Perth Royal Infirmary and was attended by approximately 70 delegates from a broad spectrum of representation including consultant pathologists, biomedical scientists and general management from most of the health board regions in Scotland. All of the presentations from the day are available below.
Professor Frank Carey the Network Clinical Lead Chaired the morning session and introduced Dr Aileen Keel Deputy Chief Medical Officer as the 1st speaker. Dr Keel gave an introduction to the concept of managed diagnostic networks and a brief overview of the development of the Pathalba project. She summed up by saying how positive the initiative of the network was and its potential to be used in other areas of the NHS. The main thrust of the presentation the important role pathology laboratories had in delivering the NHS agenda, implementation of HDL (2006) 12 and in particular for laboratories, the use of benchmarking across the labs in Scotland.
Professor Carey who gave an overview of the evolution of SPAN and the many challenges for the future. The requirement to deliver pathology services to meet the needs of "Delivering for Health".
Derek Bishop the SPAN manager outlined the progress so far and challenges of the 1st 6 months included diverse subjects from Digital Imaging to Her2 Testing.
The next speaker was Dr Jeremy Thomas from NHS Lothian and the Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (SMASAC) Specialty Advisor for Pathology. He outlined how SMASAC is organised and its role in influencing Health Department direction.
Dr Alistair Robertson outlined the progress made in the Pathalba project to deliver access to digital imaging for all consultant pathologists in Scotland. Significant progress had been made and the 1st Phase tender closing date was the 8th May 2006.
Dr Ruth Adamson from Crosshouse presented on the impact of Herceptin used as adjuvant therapy in all new breast cancer patients in Scotland. The particular perspective was on the impact for laboratory testing for HER2.
After lunch Dr Margaret Balsitis gave an overview talk on the impact nationally on roll out of colorectal screening over the next 2 years. The presentation highlighted aspects of financial impact to laboratories and the significant differences in case complexity of biopsies presented from patients through the screening programme.
Dr Jocelyn Imrie from Monklands presented a perspective on the drivers for change facing cervical cytology in Scotland and covered many areas from manpower planning, impact of HPV testing through to the impact of new technologies. It became apparent that the face of cytology would change nationally over the next few years.
The formal talks were followed up by a question and answer session on how the network would function and how its constitution and remit would develop.
Examples of the questions raised included :-- Who funds the network at present?
The funding of the network is though the regional planning groups and is funded from each of the health board regions using Arbuthnot. Currently the administration/responsibilities are to the South and east of Scotland Planning group representing all of the planning groups. - Will this network become the sole employer of all pathology staff in Scotland, allowing the flexible
reallocation of staff resource based on local need, as has been suggested in other pathology networks?
This is not envisaged as far as we are aware. - How will the network represent the labs and how will the labs be represented.
This stimulated significant discussion and it was felt that the most appropriate model would be based on a steering group. It was reflected that the steering group would be the main conduit for workplanning for the network and communication lines to and from the Executive Health department on strategic issues affecting pathology. It was agreed that the 1st steering group meeting would be made up of a Clinical Lead and Head Biomedical Scientist from each Health Board region with a pathology laboratory. It remained for the regions to get together and decide who their representative would be. It would then be the responsibility of the steering group to co opt or decide other representations required at its first meeting. Subsequent to the meeting the decision was made that the venue and date of the 1st steering group meeting would be the Scottish Health Service Centre, Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on 20th June 2006 starting at 10.30.
Overall the consensus of opinion was the Scottish Pathology Network was a significant step in the development of pathology services in Scotland and would be well supported.
Professor Carey thanked the speakers for coming, Perth Royal Infirmary and venue organisers for their help and support in providing an excellent meeting.