The National Association of Cytologists (NAC) was formed in 1990
to fulfill the need for a pragmatic all-embracing organisation to
reflect and represent the views of all members of the cytology fraternity.
The aim is to provide an open and friendly society for all who practice
cytology. It has proven to be a tremendous success. The Association
has rapidly expanded due to the enthusiasm and participation of
its members, and comprises a healthy mix of cytology screeners (cytotechnologists),
biomedical scientists, clinicians and other professionals with an
interest in cytology. The NAC is recognized both nationally and
internationally and has played an important role in the improvement
of cytology services in the UK.
Click
here to read more about the NAC, plus its
Aims and Objectives
Aims and Objectives of the National Association of Cytologists
The Association publishes a biannual journal, SCAN, and hosts
an annual scientific meeting with a varied and interesting programme.
A Continuing Education Certificate (CEC) scheme is also provided
to help members demonstrate their personal commitment to professional
development. The NAC operates a successful bursary scheme and
members are encouraged to make use of this to assist with the
ever increasing costs of attending cytology-related events.
The NAC is online to bring you valuable professional and educational
resources as well as keeping you up to date with the latest NAC
News and Events. The NAC Executive would like to thank all members
for their continued support and we will continue to do our best
to represent your views at all levels.
The National Association of Cytologists (NAC) is an independent
association that continues to forge links and develop relationships
with the various disciplines in and related to cytology, both
in the United Kingdom and abroad. We are not affiliated to any
professional body, political institution, trade union or employer
but will use the services of or the assistance offered by any
organisation for the benefit of its members, so long as the Associations'
professional integrity is not compromised.
The Association aims to:
-
Promote a high professional standard and encourage continuing education in cytology
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Provide a nationally recognized body to represent the views of its members
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Facilitate interchange of information between NAC and other groups
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Encourage regional and national exchange of ideas and information
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Offer its members an advisory service on all aspects of cytology
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Raise the public profile of all those who practice cytology
BSCC ASM 2010
Registration is now open for the BSCC ASM
To be held in the Keele Medical Centre 14th September 2010. Follow
the link for more information and registration.
Click
here for Keele Conference Management.
Excerpt from President's Piece
Alison Baker does a review over the last 20 years of the
NAC in her President's Piece but the NAC Executive would like to
draw your attention to her discussions regarding the future of Cytology
and the NAC. The next paragraphs are drawn directly from her President's
Piece from April, 2009.
The future of Cytology, including that of the NAC itself, is a subject
that has fuelled much discussion within the Executive. Those of
you who worked in the field for long enough will remember that twenty
years ago there was no association or society that was open to Cytology
Screeners. The BSCC was only open to medical staff and very senior
BMS staff and the IBMS only to State Registered BMS staff. This
left a large gap for cytology screeners and was one of the primary
reasons for the NAC's formation. Over the last twenty years the
NAC has successfully represented cytology screeners along with all
those with an interest in Cytology regardless of staff grade. The
NAC Executive has been involved in numerous areas, always mindful
of all grades of staff. Times change however, and societies change
with time. Attitudes within and between staff groups evolve and
we have moved into an era where different staff groups regard each
other with mutual respect and enjoy much closer links than in the
past. The introduction of LBC has resulted in huge changes within
laboratories and in particular a reduction in staff of all grades.
Looking to the future with an aging workforce, automated screening,
HPV testing, and with the reconfiguration of laboratories on the
horizon it would appear that a further shrinkage in the workforce
is likely. We can only hope this is by natural wastage rather than
compulsory job losses. Medical staff recruitment and training has
also changed and has resulted in fewer specialist Cytopathologists.
Mindful of this backdrop it is therefore appropriate that the future
of the British cytology societies is examined. The NAC and BSCC
have begun preliminary discussions to explore the possibility of
forming a single association/society in the future. It is immediately
evident that there are a number of problems, some of which have
no easy solution. These include the fee structure of any such joint
organisation - currently membership of the BSCC is £130 compared
to the £30 for the NAC. It is recognised that many NAC members,
particularly the lower paid cytology screeners, would be unwilling
or unable to increase their contribution but it is also apparent
that the current BSCC subscription is related to a contractual agreement
with Wiley-Blackwell, publishers of the highly respected journal
Cytopathology. What is agreed that a future association/society
should be open to all grades of staff and that there should be no
restrictions or bar to executive member status. However, it is also
recognised that strong medical representation on the executive would
be desirable, thus maintaining links with the Royal College of Pathologists.
I must stress that these are only preliminary discussions. We will
of course keep you all fully informed of progress. No action can
be taken without the support of both association/society members.
It would require the dissolution of both organisations and the creation
of an entirely new body with a new constitution and a new name before
any proposed merger could be finalised. We have further meetings
planned in March and June and I will report on any developments
at the Annual Scientific meeting in Keele. Meanwhile please feel
free to contact any of the executive with your thoughts and views
on this possible future development.
Alison Baker April 2009
Please
don't forget the Forum.
Please put any thoughts or concerns on the NAC Forum http://www.nac.org.uk/members.php
and we will do our best to answer you and keep you up to date of
any developments. This is a really important venture and we really
would welcome your views.
| The National Association of Cytologists acknowledge
the support of its sponsors for the Continuing Education
Certificate. |