Pathology Myths

Facts and figures

25,000 staff

Facts and figures 25,000 staff £2.5 billion

Facts and figures 25,000 staff £2.5 billion 4% NHS budget

Patient surveys MORI Poll Focus groups Questionnaire for pathologists Perceptions of pathology

Pathology is all about dead bodies Pathology Myth 1

“It’s the morbid side. How lovely!” “I’m a doctor and I don’t want to deal with people so I’ll deal with dead people.” “It’s quite lonely. You’re left in the morgue with dead bodies.” Focus group comments

deathdiagnosisbloodcrimediseasegeneticscancerinfection percentage What does a pathologist do? MORI Poll 2005

Forensic pathology 1% Other specialties 77% Pathology facts

Pathology is just one specialty Pathology Myth 2

Histopathology Neuropathology 19 different specialties

Histopathology Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology 19 different specialties Neuropathology

Histopathology Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Haematology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Transfusion Medicine 19 different specialties Neuropathology

Histopathology Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Haematology Medical Microbiology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Transfusion Medicine Virology 19 different specialties Neuropathology

Histopathology Clinical Biochemistry Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Haematology Medical Microbiology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Toxicology Transfusion Medicine Virology 19 different specialties Neuropathology Metabolic medicine

Histopathology Clinical Biochemistry Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Genetics Haematology Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Immunology Medical Microbiology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Toxicology Transfusion Medicine Virology 19 different specialties Neuropathology Metabolic medicine

Histopathology Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Embryology Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Genetics Haematology Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Immunology Medical Microbiology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Toxicology Transfusion Medicine Virology 19 different specialties Neuropathology Metabolic medicine

Histopathology Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Embryology Cytopathology Dermatopathology Forensic Pathology Genetics Haematology Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Immunology Medical Microbiology Neuropathology Oral Pathology Paediatric Pathology Toxicology Transfusion Medicine Veterinary Pathology Virology 19 different specialties Neuropathology Metabolic medicine

Pathologists don’t take care of patients Pathology Myth 3

“It’s more of a science. They don’t want to deal with people, they want to deal with causes.” “You have your consultant there. You never actually see the pathologist.” “It would be nice if pathologists were involved in patient care but I’ve never seen one.” Focus group comments

Many pathologists work with patients in clinics or on the wards Even lab-based pathologists usually spend some time with patients, for example explaining test results The vast majority of all pathologists’ work is done for the benefit of living patients Pathology facts

Pathologists work alone in labs doing tedious repetitive jobs Pathology Myth 4

“It’s a boring job. All you’re doing is testing stuff in a lab all day.” “It’s just putting things in a machine and reading the results, you don’t have to think about it” “You do the same thing all day, every day” Focus group comments

Pathologists are members of multi- disciplinary teams and work with others to care for patients Pathologists rarely work in isolation Pathology is varied and interesting with many of the more repetitive jobs now done by machines Pathology facts

Pathologists don’t diagnose cancer Pathology Myth 5

Almost all cancers are diagnosed by pathologists Diagnoses may be made by testing blood, urine or other fluids or from a biopsy Pathologists tell other doctors what type of cancer you’ve got and how far it has spread so they know what treatment to offer Pathology facts

You have to be a doctor to work in pathology Pathology Myth 6

The majority of people who work in pathology are not doctors There are opportunities for scientists as well as support staff There are nearly 20,000 scientists working in the specialty Pathology facts

Medical school Foundation training Pathology training Research Minimum = 12 years Pathologist training

Clinical Scientist training Science degree Postgraduate degree Basic training Specialist training Minimum = 10 years

Biomedical Scientist training Science degree Basic training or Straight from A levels “Learn and earn” Continuing education Minimum = 5 years

Other opportunities Cytoscreener Lab assistant Administration IT Trials co-ordinator

Medical students don’t need to learn pathology Pathology Myth 7

Many medical schools no longer have a separate undergraduate pathology course 70% of diagnoses in the NHS involve pathology Medical student essay prize Pathology facts

PLASTIC SURGERY ENT ONCOLOGY GYNAECOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGY EMERGENCY MEDICINE PAEDIATRICS MEDICINE ORTHOPAEDICSDERMATOLOGY GENERAL PRACTICE UROLOGY PATHOLOGY

500 million biochemistry tests 130 million haematology tests 50 million microbiology tests 13 million histology slides 4 million cytology slides = 14 tests for every person in the country each year Pathology facts

“It’s interesting how they find out what diseases are and work out a cure.” “It’s clever and varied, you unravel the puzzle.” “It made pathologists seem more interesting.” “The path report is essential to any diagnosis or treatment.” “Pathology is using science to be helpful and useful.” Focus group comments

IVF Pregnancy test Antenatal tests Heel prick test Pathology for life

Vaccinations Antibiotics Allergies Leukaemia Pathology for life

Lumps and bumps Appendicitis STIs Blood transfusion Pathology for life

Cervical smears Breast screening Moles Anaemia Pathology for life

Prostate cancer Bowel cancer screening Infections Blood tests Pathology for life

Surgery Chemotherapy Organ function Autopsy Pathology for life

Pathologists work for the benefit of the living There are 19 different pathology specialties Many pathologists work with patients Pathologists are team players Pathology is an interesting and exciting career Pathologists diagnose cancer You don’t have to be a doctor to work in pathology Pathology is a popular specialty A knowledge of pathology is essential for all doctors Pathology facts