Introduction In this issue ...

• Document review - completed December 2005
• Disc containing updated documents
• Introducing the CPA regional assessors

DOCUMENT REVIEW

As you are aware we have a commitment to review all our documentation annually.  The Standards, Training and Education Group has now completed this year’s review and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work.  It is much appreciated.

CPA has embarked on the biggest change since its incorporation in 1992.  We have now recruited a cohort of paid regional assessors and this has necessitated a number of changes in the CPA documentation.  Those of you who attended the recent update sessions will have already received information on how we intend to proceed.  The new assessment process begins on 1 April 2006.  It would be helpful if you would take the time to familiarise yourself with the revised forms and the new process documented in the assessment handbook. 

The documents that have been revised are:  

• The Conduct of CPA (UK) Ltd Medical Laboratory Assessments
• Application form
• Non-compliance or observation form
• Vertical assessment form
• Report signature page
• General overview report
• EQA statement

All documentation is downloadable from the CPA website and we have also attached a disc here for your convenience. 

Cheryl Blair

CPA is pleased to announce the introduction of the new regional assessment teams.  Each team has four assessors, one of whom is the Assessment Manager.  The assessors take up their employment with CPA on 1 January 2006 and in the first three months will be busy training and planning their workload schedules.  We welcome them and wish them every success in their new careers.

The regions have been defined as follows:

Ken Rae (Assessment Manager)
Rachel Boyer-Blanchard
Michael Haldon
John Ringrow

Gwen Guthrie (Assessment Manager)
Jackie Barker
Rochelle Brugh

Phil Shread  (Assessment Manager)
Jan Chatfield
Julie Rogers
Fiona Allison

James Kenneth Rae (answers to Ken)  

I joined the service straight from school in 1964 beginning my career in Biomedical Science in the Pathology Department of the University of Edinburgh .  Latterly I was the Deputy Directorate Manager of the Laboratory Medicine Directorate covering all disciplines at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.  

I qualified in 1969 passing “my final” in Histopathology and Cytology and two years later passed my “Special” again in Histopathology and Cytology.  Since then I have gained two Post Graduate degrees along with other qualifications not least being a City and Guilds Certificate in Amateur Radio – one of my hobbies  

I joined the Institute of Biomedical Science as it is now in February 1964 and have been a member ever since.  I have served on a number of committees in my time and am currently the Institute Treasurer. I have had the privilege of being nominated by the Institute to serve on a number of Governmental committees and working groups.  

A long-standing interest I have held is the training and education of Biomedical Scientists and this has spanned a period of 35 years, having been actively involved as an examiner, lecturer, course leader, in my time.  This interest continues in that I am the current chair of the conjoint IBMS/RC Path examination board in histodissection.

 As well as training I have held an active interest and role in EQA and also CPA.  I have been involved in CPA almost since its inception, as a Board member, an assessor and as a laboratory manager and I am looking forward to this new challenge with anticipation. 

Rachel Boyer-Blanchard  

Hello everyone.

For some of you my name may be familiar.  I have been working at CPA Central Office for the last 8½ years. When I began working here I was one of the visit team administrators and have now progressed to my present position as one of the Accreditation Managers and Deputy to Cheryl.  Prior to that I had completed my BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science at the University of Wolverhampton and then went to work at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield as a research scientist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

During my time at CPA I have developed a keen interest in both management and quality.  This has been furthered through undertaking an MBA at Nottingham University Business School and participating in the CPA Quality Management Group.   My other professional interest is in training and I have been a member of the CPA Standards Training and Education Group since 2001. 

When I am not working I love long walks in the Peak District and during the summer, the Cornish and North Devon coastline.  If I’m not out and about with my husband and family I enjoy curling up with a good book and a nice glass of red wine.

I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of you in the Northern region in the coming months. 

Michael Haldon

I am joining CPA after 26 years working in NHS Pathology.  I am currently Microbiology Department Manager at Hope Hospital in Salford.  I am married to Susan and we have two teenage sons.  I am originally from Preston but have lived in Bolton for the last 15 years.

My laboratory career started in 1979 at Preston Infirmary and my early training was multi-disciplinary.  I qualified in microbiology in 1982 and became a Fellow of the IBMS in 1984.  In 1990 I was appointed Chief Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology at Hope Hospital and I became Laboratory Manager in 1994.  

As a microbiologist I have been a committee member of the British Society for Microbial Technology for 10 years, serving as Chairman between 1999-2003.  During my career, as well as having a keen interest in microbiology, I have also had an active involvement in several areas of quality management within the Salford NHS Trust.  I acted as internal assessor for the European Foundation for Quality Management, I was involved with CNST standards and I chaired the Pathology Health and Safety Committee.  My department has had CPA approval since 1994 and I have worked as a CPA assessor for the last five years.

I am looking forward to joining CPA and helping to maintain and develop quality standards in Pathology.

John Ringrow

Hello everyone.

Although born in the Wirral, I spent my early years and school life in Dorset.  I started my professional career as a company microbiologist for a scientific consultancy in Dorset, having gained a first degree in biochemistry and microbiology from Leeds university.  Then I moved to the NHS, training as a biomedical scientist at Poole General Hospital, where I studied for the then IBMS special exam. Following that was a move to Durham, where I worked in microbiology throughout the Trust’s many changes and mergers. During the time in the laboratories, I developed my interests in management and education, studying for an MBA and teaching qualifications. Also my work eventually became more directed towards quality systems with the advent of the new laboratory standards, and,  before joining CPA, I was multi-disciplinary/multi site Pathology Quality Manager for the Directorate.  

I have always had a strong commitment to the learning and development of others in the profession, both in training within the laboratories and contributing to the work of the IBMS with quality management and in external examiner/assessor roles. I am also a partner with the Health Professions Council.  

In my spare time I have a passion for aviation, and have a private pilot’s licence. I observe for the Institute of Advanced Motorists , being the local group vice-chairman. Earlier this year I obtained a motorbike licence. Many have also referred to me as the proverbial gadget man too!  

I look forward to meeting everyone in the northern region medical laboratories over the coming months and years.

Gwen Guthrie  

I am joining CPA (UK) Ltd as an Assessment Manager from the post of Laboratory Services Manager at University Hospital Lewisham.  

I started my career as a Student Technician in the Haematology Department of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where I gained an HNC in Haematology and Blood Transfusion. I moved to London in 1972 to take up a post of Basic Grade Technician in Haematology and Blood Transfusion at The London Hospital, Whitechapel (now The Royal London Hospital), gaining the IBMS Fellowship examination in Haematology in 1973. I gained promotion to Senior MLSO in the same department in 1974. In 1980 I joined Lewisham Hospital as a Chief MLSO in the Immunology section of the Haematology Department, gaining an MSc in Applied Immunology from Brunel University in 1988. I became Senior Chief MLSO for the Department of Haematology at Lewisham in 1988 and later Laboratory Manager in 1992. In 2000 I became the Laboratory Services Manager for the Departments of Haematology and Clinical Biochemistry at University Hospital Lewisham. I have been a CPA peer assessor since 1992.

Jackie Barker  



Initially starting my working life as a Civil Servant in Newcastle, I looked for a career change and became a junior technician in Cytology before moving to the National Blood Service where I completed my state registration in 1984. Newly qualified I set off for the Middle East, first becoming involved in CAP and AABB quality management schemes whilst working in blood donor programmes and haematology laboratories in both Saudi Arabian and American administered hospitals. I returned to the UK in the early 90’s and completed my FIBMS in 1993.

A brief period as a locum Biomedical Scientist gave me an insight into both the public and private sectors in London. Subsequently I worked on a permanent basis in a number of large London teaching hospitals before taking up the post of Blood Bank Manager at St. George’s Hospital in 1997. During my time at St. George’s I was able to further develop my interest in Quality Management, becoming Haematology Quality Manager.

 In April 2004 I became a peer assessor for CPA and I am now looking forward to developing my assessor role and working with you in the future.

Rochelle Brugh

I am joining CPA from International Accreditation New Zealand where I worked for three years as an Accreditation Officer for the Medical Testing and Radiology Programme. This role primarily focussed on the arrangement and completion of quality system and peer-review assessments of public and private sector medical testing laboratories throughout New Zealand. Prior to this I was employed as a Cytotechnologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital Laboratory in Oxford, and at the Auckland City Hospital Laboratory in New Zealand. I graduated from Massey University with a degree in Medical Laboratory Science, majoring in Cytology and Microbiology. I have recently emigrated to England with my husband and we live in Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey.

Phil Shread

I started out in Microbiology in the South-East in 1974 initially working for the Public Health Laboratory Service based in Maidstone. I qualified through the HNC/Special Examination route at what was then the Bromley College of Technology. I took over as Chief MLSO at Maidstone when the PHLS re-located to a new laboratory in 1983. In 1989 I moved to Cheltenham, where I am now based, as Deputy Laboratory Manager in Microbiology.  

I have been involved with CPA as an inspector/assessor since 1994 and have undertaken nearly 30 visits both as assessor and team leader.

When I am not working I enjoy gardening, cooking (particularly the associated wine tasting) and walking holidays. As a Man of Kent I closely follow the fortunes of the county cricket team.

I am looking forward to the challenge that the assessment manager role will bring and also to take a full part in shaping the accreditation process in the future. It will be interesting to be involved in assessments across the range of pathology disciplines although clearly the peer-group assessors will still be fundamental in assessing the scientific qualities of the labs. The salaried assessors should be able to ensure a greater consistency of the assessment process across disciplines within the same pathology departments.

Jan Chatfield

I am an experienced Biomedical Scientist starting my career with the PHLS in Shrewsbury where I spent some very happy years, becoming State Registered in Microbiology in 1975.   My husband re-located to Wales, so I worked in the PHL lab in Newport for a year or so before the lab transferred to the brand new Royal Gwent Hospital laboratories, where I worked for a further 5 years until leaving in order to start a family.  

On returning to paid employment when my youngest started school, I joined JMJ Laboratories in Abergavenny, a multidisciplinary CPA & UKAS Accredited independent pathology service, where I began to develop my interest in accreditation and quality management. 

I re-joined the PHLS in 2002 to work as Quality Manager in the Food, Water & Environmental labs in both Hereford and Gloucester.   In October 2003 I was appointed Quality Manager for the Pathology Service in Gloucestershire, since when all the disciplines have been successfully assessed to the new CPA standards.

I am experienced in quality systems and laboratory accreditation under both CPA and UKAS from the laboratory’s point of view and know from first hand the stress that assessment visits can cause.

I am happily married and live in a small village in South Wales, where I have an active social life enjoying eating out, entertaining at home and meeting friends in the local Pub for the odd glass or two of red wine whilst watching Wales win the Rugby (in my dreams!).  I try to swim once a week, enjoy walking, and watching my husband do the gardening and have recently, sadly, become hooked on Sudoku. 

Julie Rogers

In 1989 I was appointed as a microbiologist in the Public Health Laboratory Service at Porton Down to investigate the survival, growth and infectivity of Legionella pneumophila in water systems for which I gained my PhD.   I have also undertaken research and published widely in survival, detection and infectivity of a variety of pathogens, development of in vitro and in vivo models for pathogens on medical implants, aerobiology studies and antimicrobial testing.

In 1995 I was appointed Research Division Quality Officer with responsibility for implementation of ISO9000 and ISO9001: I led the development of the Research Management system, including development of documentation and staff training.

In 1997 I co-ordinated the Biological Investigation Group project to attain GLP.  This involved direct interpretation of the statute to achieve significant changes in the facility and management system for a 50 room facility with complex project interactions.

Until my present appointment as a CPA Assessor I worked as a manager in the Health Protection Agency with responsibility for flow cytometry, cell sorting, confocal microscopy and histology facilities.  This has included the provision of services to internal and external projects, high throughput analysis and specialist containment level 3 facilities to comply with FDA and Select Agent Registration.

Fiona Allison

I graduated from Edinburgh University with a 2(1) in Biochemistry. My first NHS Pathology post was in Glasgow studying trace elements in mothers and babies.  I then moved to Sheffield where I investigated Fatty Acid Oxidation Defects in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for my PhD.  Subsequently I worked at Chertsey in a routine Chemical Pathology Laboratory. My next post was in the Chemical Pathology Department at Southampton University Hospitals (NHS) Trust (SUHT) where I have worked for the last 15 years.

My roles at SUHT have included investigating patients with suspected inborn errors of metabolism, Point of Care Testing, running the Critical Care Laboratory, External Quality Assurance and acting as Duty Biochemist.  I have been a Quality Manager for four years at SUHT. I became Lead Quality Manager for Laboratory Medicine in July 2004 and prior to that I was Quality Manager for Chemical Pathology.  I studied for Quality Management qualifications at Salisbury College and became a Member of the Institute of Quality Assurance in 2002.

My hobbies include playing music, theatre and yoga-pilates.  I am looking forward to the challenge of assessing laboratories for CPA.

CPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006

This year’s Annual Conference has moved to a new venue.  The 2006 Conference will be held on Tuesday 14 March at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.  The cost of the Conference to delegates will be £155.  The main theme of the morning session this year will focus on service delivery.  Topics will include pathology service improvement, modernisation 

and the Healthcare Commission Concordat.  We have invited representatives from the Department of Health, the NHS Modernisation Agency and the Healthcare Commission to speak. 

We have also included a session on service delivery from the independent sector and our invited speaker is from PathCare, South Africa.  

The afternoon session will introduce the new CPA regional assessors and will provide the opportunity for discussion on the new style of assessments.

As in previous years we expect there to be a capacity audience and it is advisable for delegates to book early.

Further information on the programme will be available early in the New Year.

• There is a new search engine on the website www.cpa-uk.co.uk  All medical laboratories enrolled with CPA are now listed on the website and the status of each laboratory is identified.  Please take a few minutes to look at the new style of presentation and let us have any comments.  

• We now have a paper providing guidance for Virology and this can be downloaded from the CPA  support website.  

•  The CPA logo has now been registered as a trade mark.  We are currently working on the rules for use of the logo.  Further information will appear on the CPA website in the near future.

DIARY DATES

CPA Annual Conference 2006
Tuesday 14 March 2006
Royal Society of Medicine, London

CPA Two-Day Peer Assessor Training Course 
Date to be advised