1. General introduction to the event including the Royal College of Pathologists and National Pathology Year.

2. Pregnancy Pathology professionals help keep mothers and babies healthy
Antenatal and newborn screening tests are performed by pathologists and scientists
Pathology tests include blood tests for anaemia, diabetes and infections
When people think of pathology they usually think of dead bodies and murder investigations. However, pathology tests play an important role in the care of healthy mothers to be and their babies.

3. Pregnancy Some foods should not be eaten during pregnancy
Some should be avoided because of the risk of infection e.g. raw eggs, unpasteurised cheese, pâté
Others should be avoided because of the risk of toxicity e.g. liver, tuna
Opportunity to talk about why different foods should be avoided during pregnancy – and what foods should be eaten, and how much e.g. healthy diet, not eating for two.

4. Pregnancy
Emma’s pregnancy was completely normal, with no complications
During her pregnancy she had over 20 pathology tests including a pregnancy test, screening for syphilis, rubella and HIV, tests for anaemia, Down’s syndrome and a test to determine her blood group

5. Pregnancy In 2008 790,000 babies were born in the UK
The average age of mothers was 29 years
The average age of fathers was 32 years
1 in 34 babies is born a twin or triplet
Pregnancy facts and figures

6. Antibiotics Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections
Antibiotics don’t work against viruses so are no good for a cold or ‘flu’
Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can result in bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotic

7. Antibiotics Preventing infection is an important role of pathologists
Until the last century many women died after giving birth from childbed fever
This was almost completely eradicated by better hygiene and the use of antibiotics

8. Antibiotics John had a chest infection and went to see his GP
He was prescribed antibiotics but only took 3 days of the week’s course
His chest infection came back
It is important to take the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better

9. Antibiotics
Listeriosis is an infection cause by Listeria monocytogenes
It is particularly harmful for pregnant women as it can cross the placenta and infect the baby
Listeria can contaminate food even if refrigerated e.g. soft cheese, pâté

10. Transfusion
Blood transfusions save thousands of lives every year, including mothers and babies
8000 units of blood are used every day in the UK
Do you know your blood group? The most common is O positive

11. Transfusion
Blood transfusions may be given following blood loss during childbirth
Blood transfusions can even be given to babies before they are born
In some circumstances blood lost during a caesarian section can be given back to the mother

12. Transfusion
Gemma and her husband are both blood group A but she is rhesus negative and he is positive
Gemma was given an injection of anti-D to prevent serious illness in future pregnancies
Anti-D has saved thousands of babies

13. Transfusion Almost anyone can become a blood donor
A unit of blood is 470ml
You can give blood every 4 months
All donated blood is tested for infections including HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis

14. Heart Pathology is at the heart of modern healthcare
Over 70% of diagnoses in the NHS involve pathology
Pathologists and scientists help keep your heart healthy
Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the UK

15. Heart This is a baby’s heart at 12 weeks’ gestation
The heart is already perfectly formed at this stage
The baby’s heart beats faster than the mother’s
Congenital heart disease affects around 1 in 100 babies

16. Heart 1 in 5 people will die from coronary heart disease
Some pathologists perform post mortem (autopsy) examinations
Much of the knowledge about heart attacks has been gained from post mortems

17. Heart Fred was admitted to hospital with pain in his chest
Pathology tests showed that he had had a heart attack and that his cholesterol level was high
Other risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure and inactivity

18. Ovum An ovum is another name for an egg
The egg contains half the genetic information needed to make a baby
1 in 6 couples suffer from infertility
Clinical embryologists help them conceive – using IVF or other techniques

19. Ovum
Clinical embryologists are scientists who specialise in the investigation and treatment of infertility
Nearly 2% of babies in the UK are born following assisted conception techniques such as IVF (in vitro fertilisation)
The first IVF baby was born in 1978

20. Ovum Tracey and Tom lost their first baby to an inherited disease
They had IVF for their next pregnancy to make sure that their second child did not have the same illness
A healthy embryo was selected and now they have a bouncing baby boy

21. Ovum Over 13,000 babies are born from IVF each year
Approximately 24% of IVF attempts are successful
23% of IVF pregnancies result in more than one baby
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority oversees all work involving human eggs, including IVF

22. Lab. coat
Many people think that all pathologists work in laboratories or mortuaries but that’s not the case
Many pathologists work on hospital wards and in outpatients clinics
Even lab-based pathologists are part of multidisciplinary teams

23. Lab. coat
The image of the mad scientist working in an isolated lab does not reflect reality
Scientists and pathologists work in teams and must have good communication skills
There are 20,000 scientists working in pathology in the UK

24. Lab. coat Andrew is training to become a clinical scientist
Clinical scientists work in a wide range of pathology specialties including biochemistry, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, immunology, microbiology, histocompatibility and immunogenetics

25. Lab. coat
There are many different types of laboratory, reflecting the 19 pathology specialties
Many hospitals open their labs to the public during National Pathology Week
This is a great opportunity to meet pathologists and scientists and find out what goes on behind the scenes

26. Operation
Surgeons perform operations but pathologists examine the tissue removed
Histopathologists examine tissue with the naked eye and under the microscope
If you’ve had your appendix or a mole removed, a pathologist will have examined it

27. Operation
Nearly 20 million histology slides are examined in the UK every year
Special stains are used to identify particular tumours or infective organisms
Histopathologists are all doctors and undergo at least 8 further years of training after qualifying

28. Operation
Kelly’s baby was too big to be born naturally so she had a caesarian section
Pathology tests were performed to make sure that Kelly and her baby stayed healthy
Approximately 1 in 4 babies is born by caesarian section in the UK

29. Operation Histopathology is a vital part of many people’s health care
Histopathologists diagnose cancer as well as less serious diseases
They are involved in screening for diseases such as cervical, breast and bowel cancer

30. Glucose
This represents a molecule of glucose, the sugar that provides fuel for the body
Clinical biochemists are pathology scientists who measure chemicals like glucose in the blood, urine or other body fluids
Glucose levels are controlled by the hormone insulin

31. Glucose If the body doesn’t make enough insulin, diabetes may develop
Clinical biochemistry is essential for the management of diseases like diabetes
Other chemicals that are measured in the blood include sodium, calcium and cholesterol

32. Glucose Penny has had diabetes since she was a child
She has got used to giving herself regular insulin injections
She measures her own blood sugar levels and varies the amount of insulin she injects

33. Glucose
Around 2.3 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes
It is thought that another 500,000 are not aware that they have the disease
Resistance to insulin occurs in all pregnant women – but only some develop diabetes

34. Y chromosome
Everyone has two sex chromosomes, which determine whether you’re male or female
Men have an X and a Y chromosome (XY)
Women have two X chromosomes (XX)
Many diseases have genetic causes

35. Y chromosome
Geneticists are pathologists who specialise in genetic disease
They can detect some diseases that run in families and predict who will be affected
There are more than known genetic diseases e.g. sickle cell anaemia and cystic fibrosis

36. Y chromosome 3-4% of babies have a genetic disease or birth defect
30% of children and 10% of adults in hospital are there because of genetically related disease
Many common diseases also have a genetic component e.g. diabetes, heart disease and cancer

37. Y chromosome
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that particularly affects the lungs and gut
People with CF are more likely to get chest infections and digestion problems
Pathology tests can diagnose CF before, during or after pregnancy

38. The 19 pathology specialties include: Histopathology Haematology
Clinical biochemistry
Medical microbiology
Immunology
Mention main pathology specimens (and others if you wish).

39. The best known pathology specialty Is the specialty shown on TV
Forensic pathology
The best known pathology specialty
Is the specialty shown on TV
Is one of the smallest specialties
Involves less than 1% of pathologists
Opportunity to debunk the myth that pathology is only what people see on CSI and Silent Witness.

40. Uses 4% of the health budget Is involved in 70% of diagnoses
Pathology in the NHS:
Involves 20,000 scientists
And 7,000 pathologists
Uses 4% of the health budget
Is involved in 70% of diagnoses
Pathology facts and figures.

41. Pathology tests are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, for example:
Diabetes
Cancer
Heart disease

42. Pathology tests help keep mothers healthy, including testing for:
Anaemia
Infections
Rhesus incompatibility
Diabetes

43. Pathology tests help keep babies healthy, including testing for:
Cystic fibrosis
Thyroid disorders
Sickle cell anaemia
Metabolic disorders

44. The science behind the cure The heart of modern healthcare
Pathology is:
The study of disease
The science behind the cure
The heart of modern healthcare
Summarise what pathology is and its importance in the care of the living.

45. Opportunity to invite the audience to other NPY events and direct them to the NPY website for further information.