Bulletins

National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel (NQAAP) for Haematology

The NQAAP is responsible for monitoring the maintenance of satisfactory standards of haematology in laboratory performance in both the public and private sectors of the UK.  The committee is chaired by Dr Patrick Carrington and Dr Richard Soutar is the BSH representative. The committee is active and meets formally in March of each year. Reports and minutes of the various schemes are reviewed throughout the year. At the March 2009 meeting the following schemes were considered:

Welsh Assessment of Serological Proficiency (WASPS), Central Quality Assurance Scheme (CQAS), UK NEQAS Vitamin K Quality Assurance Scheme (KEQAS), UK NEQAS Leukocyte Immunophenotyping Scheme, UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation Scheme, UK NEQAS Haematinic Assay Scheme, UK NEQAS Blood Transfusion Laboratory Practice and Feto-maternal Haemorrhage Scheme and finally the UK NEQAS General Haematology Scheme.  The panel concluded that all schemes were operating satisfactorily.

Further details of the committee’s work can be obtained by contacting Dr Soutar (Richard.Soutar@ggc.scot.nhs.uk).

Meeting rooms at BSH

Members are reminded that the BSH has meeting rooms which are available for use by members for haematology-related meetings for a small fee.  Maximum capacity 20.

Subject to availablity.  Terms and conditions apply.

Ghana and Haematology

Volunteers are sought from interested medical, BMS and nursing staff

The British Council has funded a three-year project to support education in haematology at Korle Bu teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana.  The funding is part of the Developing Partnerships in Higher Education (DelPHE) scheme and will cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for haematology healthcare professionals to travel to Accra for three-week periods. It is planned that 3-4 such visits will be undertaken each year by different volunteers. This scheme is linked to a similar programme in Malawi funded by the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Council to support postgraduate training in haematology and microbiology.

Korle Bu hospital is a 1500-bed hospital with the national transfusion centre on site. The main haematology laboratory works 24/7 for both in- and out-patients, and there are also three satellite laboratories.  Transfusion laboratory testing is provided by the transfusion centre. There are both in- and out-patient facilities for haematology patients and a chemotherapy day ward. The unit is recognised as a haemophilia treatment centre.
Haematology medical staff consist of a Director of Haematology (Dr Ivy Ekem), Professor Ankra Badu, Professor Acquaye, Dr Olayeni and Dr Ansah (transfusion director). Mr Antwi Amoateng is the BMS technical head of the haematology section of the laboratory and also the Quality Control officer.  The laboratory takes part in selected UK NEQAS schemes. The day case unit is staffed by an experienced nursing sister with 5-6 additional dedicated qualified nurses.  Chemotherapy training has been undertaken in-house. There is a well established timetable of weekly seminars, open to all haematology health professionals and a timetable of haematology training for post graduate medical staff and for medical students.

Although teaching in any aspects of haematology would be welcome, training needs that have been specifically identified include transfusion, quality assurance, laboratory safety and management, morphology, coagulation, chemotherapy side effects and mechanisms of action and alternatives.

A timetable will be drawn up to ensure that all training needs are covered over the three-year period of the scheme and volunteers are sought to cover the areas identified.

If you are interested in volunteering for this scheme please forward a short CV covering your areas of interest, expertise and availability to:
Adobea Akuffo: Adobea.Akuffo@rcpath.org 
or
Jennifer Duguid: jenduguid@hotmail.com

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