The Institute of Biomedical Science

Monthly comment

Reflecting on the future

When you are busy elsewhere, time does have a habit of running away with you, and before you know it you qualify for a bus pass and can get 10% off on Wednesdays in an out-of-town DIY store.

Thus far, I have been part of two ‘booms’. First, the post-war baby boom (I can clearly remember the day when sweets ceased to be rationed), and second, the pathology staff recruitment boom in the mid-1960s. They do say that if you can remember the Sixties then you were not part of them, and if I'm candid there are a few parts of that decade which are more than a little hazy. Faced with these distractions, like many of my peers, the A-level results were not as predicted; but, when you are wearing floral-patterned shirts and ties the size of cricket bats, such things did not seem to matter at the time.

Salvation, however, was at hand, first from a small band of very professional and respected individuals who where the ‘chiefs’ in my first laboratory, Dorchester in Dorset. In short order these five members of the Institute assisted me in the process of growing up rapidly. This was painful at the time but so very necessary in retrospect. Sadly, all five are no longer with us and I doubt that I ever did offer them the sincere thanks that they deserved. As part of this process, Institute membership was optional in theory but mandatory in practice, and through the examination systems I was able to retrace my steps from the ‘wrong road’, gain qualifications and follow a career that led eventually into hospital management for a brief period before becoming the Institute’s Chief Executive almost 21 years ago.

Of course, there is a reason for this personal reflection. At the June Council meeting, I informed members of my intention to retire as soon as a replacement can be appointed. Notionally, this will be at the end of the year, and Council has put in place an appointments process that will become public and transparent in due course. However, the time remaining gives me just a few more ‘Leader’ opportunities to reflect on the past two decades. To say that it has been a privilege is truly an understatement, but more of that over the next several months.

During the past 20 years or so, there have been many changes both within the Institute of Biomedical Science and the health service, and publication of the recent White Paper on health looks likely to be one of the most significant. The Secretary of State’s proposals are indeed bold, but in my personal opinion long overdue. It was a former conservative government that began the process of devolving responsibility from the centre, and what freedom there was in being allowed, for example, to choose the size of your own laboratory sink, rather than having to put up with the Department of Health (DH) Building Note version! During recent years, however, the emphasis has been on local service provision, but this was usually hampered and hindered by DH edicts of variable status. Mr Lansley appears to have the bravery to complete this process, with GPs commissioning services. It is also very encouraging to see the Secretary of State’s confirmation that he intends to work with the professional bodies.

I have no doubt that it will be a long and bumpy road – but those are the ones worth travelling.

Alan R Potter
Chief Executive

August 2010