The Bulletin of The Royal College of Pathologists Number 163 July 2013 In this issue The Royal College of Pathologists Everything you wanted to know about your new Pathology: the science behind the cure consultant post but were afraid to ask Voice recognition in histopathology: pros and cons Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme www.rcpath.org/bulletin Subscribe to the Bulletin of The Royal College of Pathologists The College’s quarterly membership journal, the Bulletin, is the main means of communications between the College and its members, and between the members themselves. It features topical articles on the latest development in pathology, news from the College, as well as key events and information related to pathology. The Bulletin is delivered free of charge to all active College Members, retired Members who choose to receive mailings and Registered Trainees, and is published four times a year, in January, April, July and October. It is also available for our members to download on the College website at www.rcpath.org/bulletin The subscription rate for libraries and non-members is £100 per annum. To subscribe, contact the Publications Department on 020 7451 6730 or [email protected] Sign up today and keep up to date on what goes on in the world of pathology! The Royal College of Pathologists 2 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AF telephone 020 7451 6700 email [email protected] website www.rcpath.org President Dr Archie Prentice Vice Presidents Dr Bernie Croal Dr Suzy Lishman Professor Mike Wells Registrar Dr Rachael Liebmann Assistant Registrar Dr Terry Jones Treasurer Dr David Cassidy CEO Daniel Ross Bulletin Editor Dr Laszlo Igali Managing Editor Edward Hulme Associate Editor Annabel Ries Printed by Connekt Colour The Royal College of Pathologists CONTENTS Pathology: the science behind the cure July 2013 Number 163 154 Editorial 186 International 155 From the President 186 Transformed International Committee gets ready to lead RCPath’s global health agenda 158 Working smarter 191 Training 158 Everything you wanted to know about your new consultant post but were afraid to ask 191 Delphi project 160 Delivering tomorrow’s improvement agenda for 192 General Medical Council guidance the NHS 193 Trainees’ notes 162 Voice recognition in histopathology: pros and 194 Recent College symposia: a review of… cons 195 People 164 College news 195 Examinations results: Spring 2013 164 The future home of the College 198 Medical consultants: new appointment offers 166 Honorary Officers’ Glasgow roadshow 199 Professor Guy Rutty appointed to top 167 New College Awards international role 170 Public engagement 200 Professor Jo Martin appointed National Clinical Director of Pathology Services 170 Strength to strength 200 New Year Honours 2013 170 Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme 200 Deaths 171 Schools Science Conference – celebrating 10 years 201 Letters 173 Science Communication Training 202 Book reviews 174 First impressions of pathology at the Royal 209 Discounts on books and journals Oldham Hospital 175 Members continue to organise events to 210 Meeting review promote pathology 210 Endocrine update 177 A History of Pathology in 50 Objects 211 College symposia 178 Professional standards 211 Forthcoming symposia 178 Good Medical Practice: latest guidance 212 Conference application form and proforma 180 Audit of the impact of clinical advice provided by invoice a clinical microbiologist 213 Noticeboard 184 An audit on rejected histopathology specimens 215 Legacies On the cover: Dr Alex Freeman, histopathologist at University College Hospital London, at the Schools Science Conference demonstrating pathology pots to students. Please see page 171 for more information. Photo credits: The Royal College of Pathologists, John Goodman, Warren Potter, Photos.com. Disclaimers: Authors’ views are personal and are not indicative of College policy, except when College Officers write in their official capacity. Advertisements are paid for by external agencies and do not indicate endorsement or otherwise by the College. www.rcpath.org Number 163 July 2013 155 EDItoRIAL Summer is finally here hen you receive this issue summer should finally be here, the season to take a holiday, relax and try to enjoy the good weather. But we should not forget Wthe pressure points of our profession. Quality is key balanced with the clinical need and (hopefully) In this issue, quality is heading the agenda. It seems pathologist-driven interpretation of the results. So that the landscape of commissioning is finally tak- we will still be needed, albeit it may be with some ing shape. The Clinical Commissioning Groups are change in our role... Dr Laszlo Igali finally starting to feel their power and about to make Becoming a consultant Bulletin Editor decisions about how to use best our services for the benefit of the patients. As I see it, this is a gradual Ever thought about how you became a consultant? transition and we are only just at the beginning. It is not an overnight change, and we would like to This process is very much like what parents go offer help with the article from Dr Terry Jones. through with children: with the first one, we are Working smarter? unsure and try to feel our way, but fast forward a Using digital technology can help enormously, but few years or decades and with the third or fourth as you may see from the article on voice recogni- child we are confident enough to let it flow. You tion, it is not always straightforward. We welcome just need patience, love and care – all the rest will your views for inclusion in the October Bulletin. happen naturally. When we get experience, of course, the whole Life/work balance process will be smoother, but even if the same peo- Can I stop you for one more moment before you run ple are involved in the decision-making processes away to enjoy your well-deserved summer break? as before, the context and the rules are different With the summer upon us and holidays all set, it and the whole system needs to settle in. Until then is probably worth taking a moment to think about we will gather the experience, which not only may the balance of life. While pathologists are often make it ultimately better for all involved, but we amongst the most philosophical beings on earth, all influence each other in the process, hopefully for now I would ask you not to think about the big for the better. questions of life, but merely to stop for a moment On a personal level, revalidation is now closer and consider your take on a more mundane topic. than you think. But did you think about the cost? Do you feel your life is in balance? Is your pro- By estimate, the 1.5 SPA nominally allocated to fessional and family life in harmony? a consultant post will be needed for fulfilling all Talking to colleagues who recently retired, most revalidation-related duties and collecting all the evi- of them tell me they have now discovered another dence. All in all, it is a fairly expensive way of prov- dimension of life: they are doing things that they ing our worth, amounting to somewhere between enjoy and did not have enough time to pursue £7000 and £15 000 per year per consultant. Multiply when they were active pathologists. In fact, they it by the 250 000 doctors listed by the General Medi- are even busier now than they were when were cal Council and the numbers adds up quickly: £3.75 completely immersed in the world of pathology. billion per year – and this does not even contain the Yet importantly they feel the exhilarating experi- administrative (running) costs. If we use such an ence of being more in control of their life, and it expensive process for assuring quality amongst the doesn’t matter if life is even more demanding now. medics of the healthcare system, we need to make If we do not want to lose those important as- sure we will get a good value for the money. pects, we would perhaps be better to think on them On the specialty level, quality and value are and maybe incorporate something extra into our also on the top of the commissioning shopping daily lives now to make them better. list. So if we want to stay credible and keep our However, enough of philosophy and heavy jobs and our work, we have to give data about our pathology-related thinking. The season calls for work, and show the most important features and lighter and fun-filled holidays, so only one thing performance indicators. remains for me to say… Enjoy your summer! On a professional level, molecular pathology is stealing the show in many aspects of our specialty. Dr Laszlo Igali The expanding field and experience needs to be Bulletin Editor 156 July 2013 Number 163 The Bulletin of The Royal College of Pathologists FROM THE PRESIDENT Quality assessment, reconfiguration and learning he three related subjects of quality assessment, reconfiguration and learning should be of interest to all pathologists. All of them reflect to some extent the Tstrengths of our specialties, but, equally, they have some uncomfortable and unavoidable aspects that need to be addressed. The College staff and Honorary Officers work continuously on them. Dr Archie Prentice External quality assessment (EQA) exercise. These rumours are difficult to prove College President EQA schemes in pathology in the UK have a but, if true, such consensus conduct of an EQA long and successful history, extending now to exercise illustrates only failure anxiety, neces- almost every discipline and covering not only sitating recourse to native cunning, and what systematic performance but individual inter- does it mean if they all get the ‘wrong’ answer? pretive competence.