BAC Office · 12 Coldbath Square, London EC1R 5HL · Tel: +44 (0) 20 7278 6907 · Email: mail@britishcytology.org.uk · Registered Charity 276829
23 August 2019
The Annual General Meeting of the BAC will take place on Monday 23rd September at 12.45 at the ICC in Birmingham
19 August 2019
Primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening is a new way of looking at cervical screening (smear) samples, where the check for HPV is the first test carried out.
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2019/08/19/hpv-primary-screening-report-published/
8 August 2019
The Royal College of Pathologists has previously issued guidance on clinical leadership and responsibility for cytology services – the most recent version was published in 2012.
31 July 2019
Cytopathology is inviting manuscripts for themed issues
24 July 2019
A briefing for staff in contact with the service.
18 July 2019
Capita have today announced another cervical screening incident relating to 16 women who have a delayed call and a further 99 who should have been ceased but were not.
9 July 2019
Some women may be able to go as much as 10 years between cervical screening appointments, according to the results of a key government-funded trial on HPV testing.
27 June 2019
The BAC was represented at a recent meeting held by NHSE along with the RCPath, IBMS, NHSI and PHE
24 June 2019
The July Edition of Cytopathology (Vol 30, issue 4) is now available to review online with print copies to follow
4 June 2019
NHSE issued the statement below yesterday, which completes the process of identifying the laboratories for the roll out of primary HPV in England.
28 May 2019
The preliminary report on the review of the cancer screening services in England led by Professor Mike Richards was published on the 24th May.
21 May 2019
NHSE released the following update earlier today
13 May 2019
The father of cervical cytology screening which continues to save the lives of thousands of women around the world today recognised by ‘Google’ today.
13 May 2019
Adult Health Screening: Ninety-Sixth Report of Session 2017–19
10 May 2019
Seema Kennedy MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care, responds to cervical screening joint statement
29 April 2019
The May issue of Cytopathology is now available online (vol 30, issue 3) and the print issue will be with members soon
29 April 2019
Women who are too anxious or embarrassed to go for a smear test could instead provide a urine sample to be screened for cervical cancer, research suggests.
25 April 2019
24 April 2019
It is a well- known fact that Dr John H F Smith was instrumental in setting up the former Sheffield Cytology Training Centre.
24 April 2019
BAC Statement on pHPV procurement announcement
24 April 2019
FSRH consultation response: FSRH, RCOG, BSCCP and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust issue joint position statement on cervical screening
https://www.fsrh.org/news/fsrh-rcog-jostrust-bsccp-position-cervical-screening-review/
24 April 2019
Organisations have teamed up to launch the Life Saving Wax initiative in salons across the country
15 April 2019
NHSE update on progress with the procurement of laboratory services to support the delivery of HPV primary testing within the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
11 April 2019
Statement from Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services
11 April 2019
Letter to all cytology colleagues from the ACCS
3 April 2019
NHS England (NHSE) have recently received a number of requests from bidders and other organisations as to the process for advising of the outcome of the invitation to tender (ITT) for HPV primary screening and so have issued a statement to bidders on the Procurement Portal dated 2nd April.
21 March 2019
Women will be able to conduct tests for HPV at home as part of a pilot scheme to combat the low up-take of cervical cancer screenings in England.
20 March 2019
NHS chiefs are bringing the cervical screening service back in-house after expressing dissatisfaction at the way it has been performing.
19 March 2019
The Institute of Biomedical Science, British Association for Cytopathology and Royal College of Pathologists issue a joint statement on recent cervical screening news in the national media.
5 March 2019
The campaign urges women to attend their cervical screening, with data showing that the number of women attending screening has fallen to a 20-year low.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/phe-launches-cervical-screening-saves-lives-campaign
5 March 2019
The government has launched its first cervical screening advertising campaign in England, as the number of women having checks has hit a 20-year low.
4 March 2019
The HPV - or Human Papilloma Virus - vaccine is available to year 8 and 9 schoolgirls across Britain. But not all of them get the jab.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-47419895/why-are-bame-girls-less-likely-to-get-the-hpv-jab
11 February 2019
PHE Screening has launched new training resources to support staff providing primary HPV screening in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (CSP)
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2019/02/11/primary-hpv-screening-training-resources-launched/
7 February 2019
British Medical Journal (BMJ) abstract report from HPV pilot site
5 February 2019
The “Worldvision Cytopathology Contest” (WCC) is a new global outreach initiative of the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC)
5 February 2019
The British Association for Cytopathology (BAC), Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) recently wrote to NHS England to seek an extension to the tender process for Primary HPV cervical screening.
1 February 2019
New Public Health England (PHE) guidance
1 February 2019
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the British Association of Cytopathology (BAC) respond to today’s National Audit Office (NAO) health screening report
29 January 2019
Past President of the BSCC honoured
29 January 2019
The BAC have now had confirmation from the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) of the opening and closing dates for the next round of national awards in England and Wales
24 January 2019
The BAC are delighted to host the 2019 Spring Tutorial on the theme of Practical application of reporting terminologies in diagnostic cytopathology on 29th March 2019
22 January 2019
21-27 January is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, to highlight the role of biomedical science in analysing cervical cancer and HPV, the IBMS spoke to members Allan Wilson and Kirstie Rice
https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/could-self-testing-kits-save-women/
22 January 2019
Article published on Unite Live
21 January 2019
Do you know how cervical cancer can be prevented? During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week Jo's Trust want as many people as possible to know how they can reduce their risk of the disease and to educate others.
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/cervical-cancer-prevention-week
19 December 2018
The BAC have received a letter from NHS Improvement and bring to the attention of members and all across cytology
18 December 2018
Congratulations to Allan Wilson who has been confirmed as the IBMS President Elect from 1st January 2019.
https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/announcing-our-new-president-elect/
5 December 2018
The December Edition of Cytopathology (Vol 29, issue 6) is now available to review online with print copies following soon
30 November 2018
Can you inform the EFCS by completing a short survey with regard to immunocytochemisty?
30 November 2018
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme has made a significant impact on cervical cancer mortality since it was established in 1988, saving an estimated 5,000 lives a year.
22 November 2018
NHS England update on progress with the procurement of laboratory services to support the delivery of HPV primary testing within the NHS Cervical Screening Programme
15 November 2018
On 17 October 2018, Primary Care Support England (PCSE), delivered by Capita, informed NHS England and Public Health England that between January and October this year a significant number of cervical screening letters were not issued to women when they were due.
15 November 2018
All participants are invited to submit abstracts for their presentation at ECC 2019
8 November 2018
Cytology Manager Kay Ellis gives a guided tour of her department at Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
https://thebiomedicalscientist.net/science/my-lab-cervical-screening-department
2 November 2018
There is a paucity of empirical evidence to inform the age at which to stop cervical cancer screening.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(18)30536-9/fulltext
1 November 2018
Sarah May, Deputy Chief Executive of the IBMS Editorial November 2018
https://thebiomedicalscientist.net/resources/editorial-change-cytology
25 October 2018
NHS England (NHS E) published a Prior Information Notice in mid-October 2018, informing the market of the intention to undertake a procurement process to support the implementation of HPV primary screening.
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2018/10/25/hpv-primary-cervical-screening-october-2018-update/
18 October 2018
On Saturday 13th October 2018, cytologists from across the UK attended the BAC/IBMS joint event Preparing for the Future
1 October 2018
The October Edition of Cytopathology (Vol 29, issue 5) is now available to review online with print copies following soon
28 September 2018
With the call for membership renewals in the post, BAC Chair Alison Cropper reflects on a momentous year of change in cytology
13 September 2018
The report on issues relating to the operation and management of the Irish cervical screening programme has been released.
https://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/dr-gabriel-scally-scoping-inquiry-into-cervicalcheck/
10 September 2018
There is one seat available for the BAC Executive
7 September 2018
The IAC & ASC are collaborating on developing a reporting terminology for serous fluid cytology
https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7aiFnS6JUsdzMlD
6 September 2018
Latest NHS Cervical Screening Programme blog
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2018/09/06/cervical-screening-consolidated-standards-out/
4 September 2018
Joint statement from the IBMS, RCPath and BAC
22 August 2018
A cytopathology study day is being held on Wednesday 26 September 2018 at 1:30-4.30 at Imperial College London
13 August 2018
The BAC & IBMS are running a joint event on Saturday 13th October 2018 - this will be free of charge to members of both professional bodies and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis
7 August 2018
Following a review of its delivery strategy, NHS England has agreed to begin a one-stage procurement process to reconfigure provider laboratories to support the roll-out of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) primary screening into the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (CSP) in England.
31 July 2018
The article below may be of interest to members, although many of us working in the English CSP will be too aware of these sorts of issues
2 July 2018
Latest Public Health England (PHE) Screening blog from Catherine Witney and Ruth Stubbs
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2018/06/22/expertise-underpins-cervical-screening-programme/
18 June 2018
Over the last few weeks NHSE have been undertaking four engagement events around England, and meeting many laboratory based staff.
18 June 2018
The BAC were delighted to run a session at the ECC 2018
17 May 2018
Cancer screening programmes have been much in the news in the last few weeks.
26 April 2018
Can you help lead the BAC by joining the Executive?
25 April 2018
Updated NICE guidance that may be of interest to those in the field of cervical cytology
28 March 2018
NHS(E) have announced a series of 'Market Engagement Events' which are planned to take place at four locations across England re: Primary HPV screening.
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4adfa8e5-cb0b-421b-80c1-cb8d51bd5723
26 March 2018
Cervical screening provider leads are responsible for the quality and effectiveness of NHS Cervical Screening Programme services provided within an organisation.
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/26/new-guidance-for-cervical-screening-provider-leads/
27 February 2018
The announcement by NHS England (NHSE) that Primary HPV testing within the NHS Cervical Screening Programme will be implemented fully across England by the end of December 2019, and that to support this, the agreement of a strategy to commission up to a maximum of 13 laboratory services, was made in late 2017
https://phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/01/primary-hpv-testing-update/
22 February 2018
BAC AGM, 4th November 2017, National Railway Museum, York
A post conference reflection by Jenny Davies, FIBMS
12 February 2018
The BAC are delighted that several of the lectures from the fully booked ASM held 4th November 2017 are now available for members to download.
8 February 2018
The study day on 16th April 2018 covers aspects of FNA practice including the value of onsite assessment and provisional reporting in H&N, EBUS and EUS suites
8 February 2018
IBMS/RCPath Conjoint Board for Cytology is asking for expressions of interest from Consultant Cytopathologists to join the Conjoint Board
29 January 2018
Following on from the Jo's Trust Cervical Cancer Prevention campaign last week the IBMS have produced an article highlighting the challenges facing cervical cancer screening in the UK
https://www.ibms.org/resources/news/the-challenges-of-nhs-cervical-cancer-screening/
22 January 2018
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/cervical-cancer-prevention-week-2018
10 January 2018
Please be aware that the 2018 Clinical Excellence Awards round will open on Tuesday 13 February and will close at 5:00pm on Thursday 12 April.
19 December 2017
Cervical screening prevents cancer by detecting abnormalities of the cervix and referring women for potential treatment.
We rely on 50 laboratories across England to report on cervical cytology (sometimes called smear test) samples.
19 December 2017
Primary Care Support England produce quarterly bulletins for cervical screening
https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/news/2017/december/cervical-screening-bulletin/
5 December 2017
The effectiveness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme in Scotland has been assessed in a 7-year crosssectional study.
http://dtb.bmj.com/content/early/2017/12/04/dtb.2017.12.0560
10 November 2017
Women vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV) - thought to cause about 99% of cervical cancers - may only need three smear tests in their lifetime, a new study suggests.
8 November 2017
This report presents information about the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England in 2016-17 and includes data on the call and recall system, on screening samples examined by pathology laboratories and on referrals to colposcopy clinics.
6 November 2017
HPV testing will be introduced as the primary screening modality in the cervical screening programmes in all four nations of the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland in the near future.
5 November 2017
The BAC announced the long awaited decision on the numbers of laboratories within the CSP in England on Saturday at the ASM. The official announcement was released late afternoon on the Friday 3rd November 2017, and the 140 delegates at the ASM were amongst the first to hear it.
27 October 2017
As members may be aware, there has been work over the last few months by NHSE working with PHE on plans to help alleviate the current cervical cytology backlogs across England.
5 October 2017
The number of young women in Scotland showing early signs of potential cervical cancer has dropped by 41% since a school vaccination programme was introduced, researchers have said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41496953
4 October 2017
Revised edition replaces the 2015 version
27 September 2017
For several months there has been little news to report on the roll out of HPV in England.
21 September 2017
Health matters: making cervical screening more accessible
13 September 2017
BAC can report that the ASM 2017 has been approved for CPD purposes
http://www.britishcytology.org.uk/go/bac-cytology-meetings~10
22 August 2017
All providers of local NHS screening services in England should apply this guidance. This includes NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts, general practitioners and private providers.
14 August 2017
Acta Cytologica, the official journal of the International Academy of Cytology, lost its Journal Impact Factor in 2014.
10 August 2017
A press release issued today indicates that Scotland will introduce Primary HPV Screening within the Scottish CSP for an expected delivery date of 2019-20
@britishcytology