The Institute of Biomedical Science

www.ibmscongress.com

IBMS North West

IBMS North West Region serves as a channel of communication between IBMS Council, the Institute office and its local members. The region and branch network has an important role to play in supporting local biomedical scientists, promoting the profession, implementing policy, building up local networks and organising meetings. See contact details at end of page.

IBMS North West Region 2011

We met on four occasions in 2011 with representation from Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Manchester, north Wales and Isle of Man. We also have co-opted a representative from the Northwest Quality Managers Forum particularly to report on quality management issues.

Branch reports indicate Merseyside and Greater Manchester continue to be active, having a significant number of members.

Both Merseyside and Greater Manchester have organised presentations to members on key issues relating to biomedical science, updates on Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) and developments in pathology modernisation. We are grateful to company members for continued support to sponsor refreshments at these events.

The Northwest region attended graduation presentations for BSc and MSc Biomedical Science programmes. Merseyside and Greater Manchester awarded the Dennis Kilshaw prize and Alan Sweetman Memorial Prize to MSc students at Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan Universities respectively. The IBMS president's prize has been awarded to successful undergraduates of the accredited BSc biomedical science from universities in the region.

Members of the Manchester Branch attend the Greater Manchester Pathology Network, which discusses issues including implementing pathology restructuring, impact of MSC, the QIPP agenda, staffing and training requirements, and CPD.

The Manchester Microbiology Discussion Group has continued to be successful, and has met six times per year to raise awareness of key topics in microbiology such as infection prevention, malaria, MALDI-TOF MS and carbapenemases.

The Manchester Branch also hosted a visit of the IBMS's new CEO, Jill Rodney, to senior members of the IBMS in Manchester.

Merseyside Branch launched the IBMS Centenary with a highly successful event held in Liverpool. The IBMS was represented by the President and Chief Executive, as well as authors of the recently launched book Letters of Consequence.

The region has supported science careers events in school and university, a presentation took place at Hawkley Hall school careers fair, and an employability event at the University of Chester.

North Wales, Isle of Man, Cumbria and Lancs Branches are active in a local capacity, for example lunchtime meetings.

The north west region members continue to provide support at regional level evidenced by an excellent AGM in Cumbria at which the IBMS Chief Executive Officer outlined the future of the IBMS.

Future plans for 2012
The region includes two council members, and in this capacity we plan to visit the Isle of Man Branch to communicate current issues relating to IBMS and Council. A member of the committee is invited to speak at North Wales Branch AGM.

Manchester Branch is holding the AGM in March, with a focus on the future, including presentations from IBMS executive. Manchester Branch are planning a Centenary event towards the end of 2012.

Joyce Anne Overfield, Secretary to IBMS North West Region

IBMS Merseyside branch report 2011

IBMS Merseyside is part of the IBMS North West region and its committee meetings are held tri-monthly and keep up to date with the current issues facing biomedical science. The meetings encompass reports from Merseyside branch, Northwest region and the Institute.

The committee facilitates branch meetings for its local members and encourages members to contribute with ideas for topics of interest so that they can enjoy high quality meetings.
 
The committee liaises and supports local universities regularly. The universities are Liverpool John Moores University, in which we still hold the Dennis Kilshaw Award for best MSc, poster and presentation, Chester University in which we annually participate in their careers events, and recently Edge Hill University now that they have a foundation degree developed via the MSC programme for which we provided advice.

A local bacteriology discussion group has been revived and one of our committee members regularly attends and gives feedback, it is good to see discussion groups returning to the Merseyside region.

In 2011 the committee hosted different activities, a tour of St Georges Hall, which was historical and very informative. The committee also hosted a presentation given by local historian and archaeologist, Mark Olly who gave us an insight into the history of signs and symbols that are used daily and within our profession. The Dennis Kilshaw Award was given to Laura Pitter, a biomedical scientist at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside, for achieving high marks in her MSc.

2012 will be a busy year. In January the branch will be holding a centenary event for the Northwest region, the event will include an educational talk from our new Chief Executive Jill Rodney, our newly appointed President Derek Bishop and Dr David Petts from the Institute’s History Committee who will be launching his new book co authored with Tony Harding titled Letters of Consequence: A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science.

The committee will also be hosting branch meetings throughout the year to reflect the activities being held around the country for the IBMS 2012 centenary celebrations. Although not fully decided the branch activities will be held in March, May, September and November.

Committee meetings have been scheduled for 7/2/12, 11/4/12, 12/6/12, 22/8/12 and 17/10/12.

IBMS North West contact details

Chair & Regional member to Council
Dave Eccleston
T 0151 529 3824
E dave.eccleston@aintree.nhs.uk

Secretary & Branch Representative
Joyce Overfield
E JOverfield1@gmail.com

Treasurer
Christopher Wall
T 0161 789 8098
E wallchris@hotmail.co.uk

IBMS North West Region Branches

Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, North Wales, Isle of Man and Cumbria.

IBMS Manchester Branch

Chair
Joyce Overfield
T 0161 247 1200
E JOverfield1@gmail.com

Secretary
Michael Overfield
T 0161 206 4981
E michaeloverfield@hotmail.com

IBMS Merseyside Branch

Regional Council Member & Chair
David Eccleston
T 0151 529 3824
E dave.eccleston@aintree.nhs.uk

Treasurer
Dawn Anderson
T 0151 334 2915
E rdawn.anderson@virgin.net

Secretary
Jane Harrison-Williams
T 0151 529 3574
E jane.harrison-williams@aintree.nhs.uk

CPD Officer
Beverley Duffy
E Beverley.duffy@sthk.nhs.uk

IBMS Lancashire Branch

Branch Representative
Alan Hosking
T 0161 247 1200
E ahosking@talk21.com 

IBMS North Wales Branch

Branch Representative
Ray Lipscombe
T 01248 384269 / 384640
E ray.lipscombe@nww-tr.wales.nhs.uk

IBMS Isle of Man Branch

Branch Representative
Rory McCann
T 01624 650623
E rory.mccann@nobles.dhss.gov.im  

IBMS Cumbria Branch

Chair
Nicola Norman
nicola.norman@ncuh.nhs.uk
01228 814856

Secretary
Stephanie Butler
stephanie.butler@ncuh.nhs.uk
01228 814856

Treasurer, North West Branch Representative and CPD Officer
Debra Padgett
debra.padgett@ncuh.nhs.uk
01228 814856