Monthly comment

Advocacy and influence

The words strategy, survey and support have been uppermost in the thoughts of many IBMS members, and of Council, over the past months, and deliberations are now beginning to bear fruit.

On many occasions I have been asked how we advocate on behalf of our members with governments, Departments of Health, the Health Professions Council and other professional bodies. My answer is that the IBMS works on many levels, from interacting at the grass roots to meetings at the highest level, to influence policy-makers and stakeholders in support of biomedical science and biomedical scientists.

Advocacy can be in the form of publishing a 'White Paper', such as the one you will find in this issue of The Biomedical Scientist (see 'Commissioning Pathology Services: What Support Should the IBMS Provide?' on page 283), which we have produced following an illuminating discussion event with key decision-makers in the commissioning of pathology services and with key players from other professional bodies and providers. We have also been collaborating with The Royal College of Pathologists to support and complement its consultancy services and guidance to commissioners and others involved in redesigning pathology services. Members also represent the IBMS on the UK Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and Medical Education England Healthcare Science Programme Board.

A crucial element of advocacy on behalf of our members is to ascertain individuals' views, as we have done recently in the membership survey. We will be using the results of the survey to inform our planning for the future. A short article on feedback from the survey may be found in this issue (see 'What You Said: Some Results from the Members Survey' on page 262), and we will continue to publish articles under the heading 'You Said…We Did' that will update you on our efforts to meet your needs as members.

The membership survey revealed that NHS reform is a key concern for members. We need to use our knowledge and experience to help inform the changes to health legislation and initiatives and manage the impact of these changes on the biomedical science workforce. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 in England, Healthcare Quality Strategy for Scotland, Together for Health in Wales, Transforming your Care in Northern Ireland, and the many international developments, all will have an impact on IBMS members. I would urge you to engage with the implementation of these changes to the health and care system.

I remember going through government-led change with the introduction of Working for Patients and GP fundholding. There was significant public and professional reaction at the time. However, despite all the uncertainty brought about by these changes, one constant has been the continued increase in demand for laboratory services. Biomedical scientists and biomedical science will continue to thrive and adapt to whatever may be the new market conditions in which healthcare is delivered. Demand for testing will continue to increase, technology will develop and requests will become more complex. We will deliver more in the community and through patient self-testing; however, in my view, this will not, even with intelligent commissioning and demand management systems, prevent the growing demand for laboratory-based tests on an increasingly ageing population.

With this issue you will find the Ballot Paper for this year's elections to Council. It may surprise you to know that the difference between success and failure can be a matter of just a handful of votes. The nominees have made a big decision to put themselves forward to represent you, the members. Please show your interest and support, and let’s have the largest electoral turnout ever. It takes just a few seconds to cast your votes but it makes an important difference to how you are represented on Council.

Derek Bishop
President

Tags: IBMS, Professional & workforce

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