Events on 27 September 2023
CONGRESS 2023 - Gender: lets talk about sex... and the implications for pathology
27/09/2023
Blood Transfusion follows binary guidelines designed to protect against the formation of allo red cell antibodies capable of causing Haemolytic Disease of the Foetus and Newborn. For the first time, in 2021, the England and Wales Census included a gender identity question, ‘Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?’. 0.5% of respondents answered ‘No’ (262 000 people) of which 48 000 identified as a trans man, 30 000 as non-binary and 18 000 as another gender identity. Thus, there is a small, but significant, population of Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) individuals in society.
What are the implications for Blood Transfusion? There are several scenarios:
The lab could receive a sample labelled male and issue blood components which fail to meet the requirements of Kell negative and, if applicable, CDE negative red cells to someone with childbearing potential.
The lab could receive an antenatal sample labelled male and the LIMS does not allow staff to perform all the same testing and product issuing as it would for a female.
Some TGD individuals who have transitioned may get a new NHS number. Lab staff may be unaware and lab records are not merged which means all future transfusion requests are relying solely on antibody screening results with no historical transfusion information.
The clinical consequences of these errors are missed incompatibilities, special requirements not met (SRNM) errors and immediate or delayed transfusion reactions with a potential for major morbidity or mortality.?All the circumstances described above illustrate that provision of healthcare is not uniform?for?all patients in the UK and could be described as indirect discrimination - a policy or practice that is identical for all people but has an unfair or disproportionate effect on a people with a protected characteristic.
What are the implications for Blood Transfusion? There are several scenarios:
The lab could receive a sample labelled male and issue blood components which fail to meet the requirements of Kell negative and, if applicable, CDE negative red cells to someone with childbearing potential.
The lab could receive an antenatal sample labelled male and the LIMS does not allow staff to perform all the same testing and product issuing as it would for a female.
Some TGD individuals who have transitioned may get a new NHS number. Lab staff may be unaware and lab records are not merged which means all future transfusion requests are relying solely on antibody screening results with no historical transfusion information.
The clinical consequences of these errors are missed incompatibilities, special requirements not met (SRNM) errors and immediate or delayed transfusion reactions with a potential for major morbidity or mortality.?All the circumstances described above illustrate that provision of healthcare is not uniform?for?all patients in the UK and could be described as indirect discrimination - a policy or practice that is identical for all people but has an unfair or disproportionate effect on a people with a protected characteristic.
CONGRESS 2023 - HR and OH departments – how to work with them to achieve the best results
27/09/2023
HR and OH departments – how to work with them to achieve the best results
CONGRESS 2023 - Workforce and sustainability – getting the equation to balance
27/09/2023
The debate about performance and sustainability of our healthcare services is often reduced to a questions of money and beds are there enough of either? Both are back ups to the more important question - are there enough staff?
The size and complexity of the workforce challenge means there will need to be concerted and sustained action across the system on workforce planning, training, retention, productivity, job roles and creating workplace cultures - that demonstrates staff are valued. For our sector, action is needed both in the short term and the long term to support the workforce and meet the needs of our service and how this will meet the wider healthcare service for patients.
This presentation will look at how leaders at all levels need to work collectively to address our workforce challenge and how we can together take action at a local, regional and national level.
The size and complexity of the workforce challenge means there will need to be concerted and sustained action across the system on workforce planning, training, retention, productivity, job roles and creating workplace cultures - that demonstrates staff are valued. For our sector, action is needed both in the short term and the long term to support the workforce and meet the needs of our service and how this will meet the wider healthcare service for patients.
This presentation will look at how leaders at all levels need to work collectively to address our workforce challenge and how we can together take action at a local, regional and national level.
CONGRESS 2023 - Generation X,Y,Z: Ageism in the workplace and its impact on service delivery
27/09/2023
Generation X,Y,Z: Ageism in the workplace and its impact on service delivery
CONGRESS 2023 -
27/09/2023
Problems can happen when we least expect them. Loss of a key building, a cyber-attack or a system failure, interruption to a utility supply, severe weather, critical equipment failure, supply chain disruption or even a significant loss of staff. Sooner or later every organization will need to deal with issues like these and if there's no plan the outcomes could be far worse than they need to be. This is why services must maintain a critical incident response plan and a wide range of business continuity plans, having a structured approach for managing these unplanned disruptions.
Business continuity planning is just one part of a much bigger risk management process. We prepare for emergencies, not just because we're legally required to do so, but because patients, donors, and the wider NHS rely on our services being available every day.
There are four main scenarios all good business continuity plans should consider:
Loss of staff
Loss of the workplace
Loss of equipment and consumables and
Loss of ICT systems
The process should be one of a cycle of preparedness including
Risk Management or identification
Planning
Training
Exercising
Lessons identified
Business continuity planning is just one part of a much bigger risk management process. We prepare for emergencies, not just because we're legally required to do so, but because patients, donors, and the wider NHS rely on our services being available every day.
There are four main scenarios all good business continuity plans should consider:
Loss of staff
Loss of the workplace
Loss of equipment and consumables and
Loss of ICT systems
The process should be one of a cycle of preparedness including
Risk Management or identification
Planning
Training
Exercising
Lessons identified
CONGRESS 2023 - CE and UKCA certification – what they mean and the implications for pathology
27/09/2023
There are complex regulatory changes taking place across the UK and the EU, which could have a significant impact on laboratory services. This session will cover what you need to know to keep on top of this and know what actions you should be taking for compliance.
CONGRESS 2023 - Kell Blood Group System
27/09/2023
If you're interested in blood groups, blood group serology, transfusion or just want to know "what the hell is Kell?" then this talk is for you...
This presentation on the Kell Blood group system will cover the following;
An entertaining overview of the Kell blood group system
Structure, function and molecular background of the most well-known Kell blood group system antigens
Clinical significance of antibodies to Kell blood group system antigens
The association with the Kx blood group system
Interesting facts about the lesser known Kell Blood group system antigens
This presentation on the Kell Blood group system will cover the following;
An entertaining overview of the Kell blood group system
Structure, function and molecular background of the most well-known Kell blood group system antigens
Clinical significance of antibodies to Kell blood group system antigens
The association with the Kx blood group system
Interesting facts about the lesser known Kell Blood group system antigens
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