1. Assessing Your Options
Sarah May
Deputy Chief Executive
Institute of Biomedical Science

2. Factors affecting decisions and options
Personal circumstances
Opportunities
Location
Experience
Seniority
Attitude

4. Transferable knowledge and skills
Specific and general science
UK healthcare systems and regulation
Good laboratory practice (and good clinical practice)
Research principles and methodologies
Quality and safety
Training methods and competence assessment
Management principles, communication skills
Accuracy, attention to detail to name but a few

5. Change of laboratory discipline
Regulation not a barrier to change of discipline
Biomedical Scientists - Specialist Portfolio can be used as a retraining qualification or as an informal training template
Cytology screeners – Certificate of Achievement is generic and transferable between disciplines and confers eligibility to apply for Registered Scientist or Registered Science Technician (Science Council)

6. How about histology?
Diploma of Expert Practice – allow approx. 2 years
Non-gynaecological cytology* - written + practical exam
Immunocytochemistry – written exam
Histological dissection – written exam
5 mandatory modules
11 optional modules – choose at least 1
Advanced Specialist Diploma – allow 2-5 years
Histological dissection (lower G.I or breast)
Histopathology reporting (G.I, gynae pathology or dermatopathology)

7. Advanced Specialist Diploma in Histopathology Reporting
Four stages, A – D
Stage A - Portfolio plus written/practical examinations
Stage B – Portfolio assessment only
Stage C – Portfolio plus written/practical and oral examinations
IBMS/RCPath ASD awarded
Stage D – assessment of competence (preceptorship)
RCPath/IBMS Certificate of Completion of Training awarded

8. Scientist Training Programme (STP)
Direct entry or in-service entry
On-line aptitude test
Shortlisting + interview
Placement offer
3 year integrated MSc programme
Graduation and registration as a clinical scientist
2019 intake applications open on 15 January

9. STP options
Life sciences, – options in blood sciences, infection sciences and genetics – biomedical science degree ideal
Genomic counselling – degree with some genetics content; prev. caring role experience needed (can be voluntary)
Physiological sciences – biology or human biology degree, biomedical science (probably)
Ideally at least a 2:1 degree but 2:2 considered if also relevant work experience

10. Total career change
Diagnostics industry – sales, technical evaluation, development, user support
Teaching – shortage of science teachers
Academia – higher education, further education
Department of Health
Medical Associate Professions

11. Medical Associate Professions (MAPS)
Physicians Associates
Physicians Assistants (anaesthetics)
Surgical Care Practitioners
Advanced Critical Care Practitioners

12. Physicians Associates (PAs)
Medical histories and examinations
Managing and diagnosing illnesses
Under supervision of a doctor
2 year PGD or MSc
Graduate entry, usually a biomedical science degree

13. Physicians Assistant (anaesthetics)
Deliver anaesthesia and critical care
Pre and post operative assessments
Consultant anaesthetist supervision
Graduate entry with biomedical or biological science degree or entry from an already registered HCPC profession

14. My advice
Start to plan your CPD strategically – this will help shape your updated CV
Refresh your knowledge of other disciplines – visit the labs, ask for some refresher reading material, ask to spend some time there if possible. Find out what retraining support is being made available by your employer – and take it!
If you’re interested in academia contact the course leader at your local HEI for a chat and a visit
Physicians Associate – read about the role, > 10 universities offer a diploma course. Is your employer considering this?
Have a conversation with the reps from your reagent/equipment suppliers and ask about job opportunities
Be prepared to take a step down in order to take a step up

15. Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future
Growing the workforce
New graduates, return to practice, retention of current staff
More medical school and undergraduate nursing places
New roles and increased skill mix
Beyond 2021/22
Workforce planning must better align with service delivery
No change in demand growth means 190,000 new posts needed by 2027
Only an additional 72,000 staff if recruitment continues at current rate
Need to balance the demand:recruitment growth ratio

16. To conclude Greater use of, and opportunities for, non-medical staff
Opportunities for biomedical scientists within and beyond our profession
Change will continue to be driven by affordability but at a faster pace and to a greater extent
We will recover from this – eventually and
Consultation language with accompanying smiley happy pictures will always irritate me – but I’ll just have to get over it!