IBMS Congress

www.ibms.org

18 Aug 2011Debating centralisation in cytology

One of the strongest elements of the cytology programme at Congress has been the debate format which has proved extremely popular (and contentious!) in previous years.

Perhaps not surprisingly in the face of fast moving re-structuring  in cytology, the choice of topic this year is centralisation. A range of speakers from across the UK will describe the regional and national approaches to the small v large debate.  Speakers include the Scottish perspective from Allan Wilson, the Welsh approach from Dave Nuttall, the Derby experience from Alison Cropper and the situation in Northern Ireland from Jackie Jamison.  The different approaches to future design of cytology services in the UK will be presented and then contested in the debate that will follow.

The implications for cervical cytology from the introduction of HPV testing will be a focus for the speakers and the future of automated screening post MAVERIC study results will feature in the presentations and the following debate. A lively debate informed by presentations from the four nations is guaranteed and non-gynae cytology issues will not be neglected as it is often difficult to disentangle the two elements of cytology.

The presentations will surely stimulate a healthy debate on this topical area and will be of benefit for all cytology professionals involved in the dramatic changes that are occurring in cytology.  Come along and add your voice to the debate

Julietta Patnick

The organising committee for the cytology programme is particularly pleased that Professor Julietta Patnick CBE, Director of NHS Cancer Screening Programmes has accepted an invitation to speak at congress.  Professor Patnick was awarded a CBE in 2005 for her services to the NHS and has responsibility for the three main cancer screening programmes in England, namely Breast, Bowel and Cervical. Professor Patnick joined the NHS in 1979 and has overseen the implementation and continuation of comprehensive standards for screening of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer.

Although the focus will be on cervical screening, Professor Patnick will also cover the breast and bowel screening programmes and will focus on the future of all three programmes. This presentation is particularly topical given the recent media attention on the benefits of the breast screening programme and the introduction of HPV triage and test of cure in the cervical screening programme.

Professor Patnick will speak at 11.00AM on Monday the 26th and her presentation will be of interest not just to cytologists but also to biomedical scientists in histopathology and anyone with an interest in screening programmes.