Letters of Consequence: A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science

Several attempts have been made to chart the history of the development of the Institute over the past century, the most recent being Dr Derek Farr’s book Learn, that you may improve, published in the early 1980s. Now, a new history, Letters of Consequence: A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science, has been written by David Petts and Tony Harding, which will be published in time for the centenary celebrations.

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) was founded 100 years ago, in 1912. Throughout the century, the Institute, first as the Pathological and Bacteriological Laboratory Assistants' Association (PBLAA), then as the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, and ultimately as the IBMS has been instrumental, through its role in education, examinations and accreditation, in ensuring that its members operate to the highest professional standards and are fit for the purpose of providing the scientific and analytical skills needed by those receiving healthcare.

Letters of Consequence is now available on Kindle.

Letters of Consequence- A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science

Letters of Consequence: A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science gives an account of the development of the Institute and the events that influenced it and allowed it to influence others in the field of biomedical science over the past 100 years. A thread runs throughout the story of the Institute that reflects the importance placed on letters, whether they be those that the founders of the PBLAA circulated in 1911 in an effort to garner support for the idea of a laboratory assistants' association, those that over the past century have contained the Institute’s response to issues of the day, or the post-nominal letters that Institute members strive so hard to achieve. It is these that are the Letters of Consequence of the title.

"It certainly stirred up a lot of memories and even though I have been in Canada for forty years, I still have a close connection with the Institute. I feel I have to congratulate our people on the amazing work."
Peter Drury FIBMS

Letters of Consequence: A History of the Institute of Biomedical Science

David Petts and Tony Harding
Edited by Brian Nation
Available from the Institute of Biomedical Science

Paperback

£11.99

Postage and packing
UK: £4
Europe: £14.25
Overseas: £20.25

Hardback

£14.99

Postage and packing
UK: £4.50
Europe: £14.25
Overseas: £24.50

To order a copy of the publication please email subscriptions@ibms.org with:

your name
postal address
telephone number
confirmation of number of copies
confirmation of whether or not you would like hardback or paperback

The Subcriptions department will contact you to take credit or debit payment over the phone. Unfortunately we do not accept American Express cards. You can also pay by cheque. Unfortunately we cannot invoice for the book due to the low cost.

Download order form here.

Members' area

Newsletter