David Wells, IBMS Chief Executive, writes about the work going on behind the scenes on behalf of members.
At the time of writing this, there is a lot of press coverage about severe waiting times, ambulances backed up outside hospitals and patients in corridors, and there is a lot of public concern about the state of our healthcare system – as there should be.
What we are not seeing are reports that well-funded diagnostics departments with highly qualified staff are a huge part of the solution to the elective care backlog and to ensuring that patients can flow through the system.
Of course, the press is never particularly solutions oriented. That is the reserve of organisations such as ours – to recognise how tough it is for our members, gauge and measure the extent and depths of the profession’s problems and then inform the correct people about the issues, concerns and solutions.
Please be assured, we are working hard behind the scenes to make sure your voices are heard at the highest levels. Alongside our sister organisations, we are raising the profile of the education and training opportunities that our members need – and how this could map onto career progression and alleviate pressure on our services.
We are explaining how registered staff in accredited laboratories provide the safest services – and how appropriate use of diagnostics and the teams behind them can support the wider healthcare system.
It is imperative that the government and the media recognise how central our diagnostics services are to the overall healthcare service – and that patients don’t get through queues or receive the care they need in hospital beds without appropriate laboratory testing.
Once this has reached the right ears and impacted the right policies, hopefully this will help to reverse the trend of underinvestment in the healthcare system and start the currently gruelling prospect of getting us back on track – providing effective, timely healthcare of which we can be proud.
David Wells Chief Executive