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Death threats
and Survival Skills
Cytologists – an endangered species?
Sarah MayDeputy Chief Executive
Institute of Biomedical Science
Cytologists - an endangered species?
OR
Cytology - an endangered science?
A Perfect Storm
• QIPP
• Pathology modernisation and
transformation
• Any qualified provider
• Modernising Scientific Careers
• HPV vaccination
• Molecular testing and new technologies
What is a cytologist?
• A laboratory assistant preparing cytology
samples?
• A cytology screener screening cervical
smears?
• A biomedical scientist in cytology?
• A biomedical scientist consultant in
cytology?
• A consultant pathologist in cytology?
• All of the above?
Pathology and the ‘bungee effect’
21/04/23
Modernising Scientific Careers – the consequences
• HCPC Biomedical Scientist register to remain
open
• Biomedical science and healthcare science
degrees can BOTH lead to HPC registration
• No evidence that the BMS workforce is not
suitable or necessary for future service needs
• Fewer biomedical scientists, more users of
biomedical science
• Reduced career opportunities?
21/04/23
Higher Specialist Scientific Training
• Higher Specialist Scientific Training – an
exceptional opportunity for an elite
few. . . .except in cytology and histology
• Restricted to HCPC registered Clinical Scientists
• 5 year funded (MPET/employer hybrid) training
course, competitive entry
• Relationship with Advanced Specialist Diploma?
• Reduced high level career opportunities?
Professional protectionism
Technicians and technologists in pathology • Service reviews and down-skilling exercises result in
an increase in number of support staff
• Efficiency drives and technological innovation
require and fuel changing skill mix
• The rise of the professional (cytology) technician
(within histology?)
Access to and use of biomedical science cytology
knowledge base
Different from ‘traditional MLA’
Biomedical scientist mindset
21/04/23
Beware the race for the bottom• 20% cost savings • Workforce reprofiling• Post reviews and regrading• Any qualified provider• Reduced career opportunities
Workforce consequences
• Reduction of experienced qualified staff and
replacement with lower qualified individuals
• Limitation of promotion prospects
• Loss of expertise and interest in cytology as
a scientific diagnostic service
• Potential increase in pathology and clinical
costs through greater reliance on
histological diagnosis
The UK has some of the best cytologists, who are excellent at working out which cells show potential signs of cervical cancer and which don’t. This is why UK trials have found much better results for the smear test than those in many other countries. If we move from smear tests to HPV testing, we would lose that experience and it would be almost impossible to recover it.
Ed Yong, NCRI conference 2010
Cytologists- an endangered species?
• Yes, unless all groups work together to
promote the science of cytology and its
diagnostic and cost benefit to patient care
INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE