The BSCC Council met on the 9th February. The following issues were discussed:
The recent publication of NHSCSP Document No 21 entitled "Guidelines on Failsafe Actions for the Follow-up of Cervical Cytology Reports" was noted. This is available on the NHSCSP website at http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/publications/nhscsp21.html
After an initial surge, sales of both the video and booklet have slowed and to help promote sales it was agreed that the price of the video and booklet would be reduced.
Further details on how to get order copies of both can be found on this website www.clinicalcytology.co.uk
Details of the ongoing work on terminology can be found in the Chairman's column.
a. Specimen Adequacy Working Group. It was reported that the Welsh CSP has opted for a minimum cellularity of 15000 cells determined by counting at low and high power magnification. The BSCC had been in discussion with the NHSCSP about relevant figures for England and the NHSCSP were keen for the BSCC to move this forward.
Council were also informed that Health Technology Assessment were involved in preliminary work. Dr Denton and Mr Dudding had been asked to comment on proposals for a study.
b. The Dyskaryosis Working Group has been re-established under the chairmanship of Dr K Denton. Dr Denton was to meet with members of the group in March and prepare a report for the ASM in September. The NHSCSP had been invited to send an observer to these meetings.
Dr Herbert and Dr Smith were preparing a letter for submission to Cytopathology outlining a number of issues regarding changes to screening intervals and age range.
Work was progressing on the various sections. The guidance will be produced in a modular format so that each section can be modified independently as changes become necessary.
The two sections covering diagnostic cytology (FNA & exfoliative cytology) were almost complete. The drafts would be sent to the RCPath for comment and also published on the BSCC website for consultation prior to final publication.
The section on cervical cytology was proving far more difficult and there was considerable debate whether there was merit in producing guidance at a time of unprecedented change in the NHSCSP. It was suggested that it would be useful to collect data from the LBC pilot sites whilst LBC training is rolled out across the rest of the UK. The Chairman agreed to move this forward and would seek the views of National Office.
The section on staffing and ergonomics was also under development but again with Agenda for Change and other changes in the NHS it was proving difficult to take this forward.
The Honorary Secretary outlined the current position with regards to our move to Coldbath Square. Membership issues moved to the IBMS office on 14th February and as of that date our Gillian Woods had taken on the role of managing day-to-day issues and updating the database. Gill's contact details are available on the BSCC web site home page.
The Treasurer reported that he had costed a number of potential venues outside London for Council and Sub-Committee meetings, but at present London, utilising the IBMS facilities, still represented good value and recommended that we continue to meet at the Institute.
It was decided that in future we might run only one tutorial a year, alternating between gynae and non-gynae and held at a London venue.
The programme for this years meeting was progressing nicely and details are available elsewhere on this website.
Discussion also took place on the merits of holding future ASMs at a smaller number of venues and of using a professional conference organising company on a short to medium term rolling contract. Dennis Williams agreed to investigate on behalf of the Programme Committee.
The 17TH International Congress of Cytology will take place in Edinburgh on 16th -20th May 2010. BSCC will be the national host society.
Dr John Smith and Dr Tanya Levine will join Dr Val Thomas and Dr Fraser Mutch as our representatives on the National Cervical Cytology Education & Training Committee (NCCETC)
Council approved the nomination of Dr Anne Warren.
Council approved the nomination of Dr Ray Lonsdale.
Council currently meets four times a year and a proposal was made to reduce this to three, by dropping the November meeting and meeting in January, May and at the ASM in September. Council were asked to consider the changes prior to discussion at the June Council meeting.
Dr Smith circulated a draft protocol for Society citations in support of members nominated for Clinical Excellence Awards that would be forwarded to ACCEA Secretariat for ratification.
The next Council meeting is on Wednesday 8th June 2005.
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