Issue 8

Introduction In this issue ...

· CPA Needs You
· Guidance from the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel for Histopathology and Cytopathology

· EQA Pilot Scheme Funding: 2003
· Diary Dates
· Christmas / New Year Holidays

CPA NEEDS YOU
CPA Assessor Recruitment

CPA is undergoing a number of changes and we are also changing the way in which we recruit potential new assessors.

Interested applicants are now invited to complete an application form taking into account the following person specification.

Essential Criteria
Assessors shall be:
· employed at the most senior professional level within their own institution as a Medical Consultant, a Grade C Clinical Scientist, or a Biomedical Scientist (usually Grade 4 ).
· a member, in good standing, of one of the professional shareholding bodies of CPA and endorsed as such.
· supported by the Chief Executive and the Head of Department of their own institution.
· working in a CPA accredited, or conditionally approved laboratory.
· able to commit to at least 3 assessment visits per annum.
· able to undertake all the necessary training and to attend the update sessions.

Desirable Criteria
Assessors should have:
· wide knowledge of the functioning of a Medical Pathology laboratory.
· an open–minded approach to assessment.

· a commitment to the CPA standards of accreditation.
· ability to work as part of a team.
· communication and inter-personal skills.

The method of appointment will be via the CPA Joint Advisory Committee and applicants will be informed in writing of the decision. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply at a future date. Please note that as the application must be endorsed by your professional organisation, your completed form should be sent to them for signature before it comes to CPA.

There is no deadline for applications as this is an on-going process. However, the first training session for new assessors is scheduled for 5 and 6 December 2002 in readiness for assessment of medical laboratories against the new CPA standards from April 2003.

Application forms and copies of the person specification can be downloaded from the following websites:
www.cpa-uk.co.uk
www.rcpath.org
www.ibms.org
www.pathologists.org.uk
www.acb.org.uk

Alternatively, please contact CPA Central Office for advice.

GUIDANCE ON SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN DIAGNOSTIC HISTOPATHOLOGY
AND CYTOPATHOLOGY EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT (EQA) SCHEMES. APRIL 2002

1. The definition of substandard performance published with the R C Path Bulletin in 1997 should remain in force; but large schemes such as the National Breast Screening and National Cervical Cytology schemes can and should adopt methods of analysis based on scores below a (per)centile such that participants scoring within the bottom 2.5% of an EQA round are identified. In practice this is what the Panel has agreed with these schemes.
2. If an EQA round has less than forty participants, the single participant with the bottom score is identified as a substandard performer. However before applying this criterion the Organiser and Participants meeting should consider whether such a score represents a meaningful deviation in standard. If there is more than one participant with the lowest score in the round no substandard performer is identified.

3. The minimum acceptable level of participation in an EQA scheme is two rounds out of three consecutive rounds of the scheme calculated on a rolling basis providing the first action point has not been reached (see section 6 below).
4. Non-participation in an EQA round for reasons of illness, prolonged annual or sabbatical leave or maternity leave is acceptable and should not equate to substandard performance. Non-participation due to a heavy routine workload is not an acceptable reason.
5. Failure to reach the minimum level of participation disqualifies the participant from receiving a certificate of participation in a scheme.
6. Non-participation after the first action point has been triggered counts as substandard performance.

National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel for Histopathology & Cytopathology
29 April 2002

EQA PILOT SCHEME FUNDING: 2003

CPA would like to invite applications for the sixth annual round of EQA Pilot Scheme Funding. Bids will be welcomed both from established EQA providers and others.

Applications must be received by CPA by 18 October 2002 and successful applicants will receive funding before the end of the current financial year.

Application forms are available from CPA Central Office.
Tel: 0114 251 5800 Fax: 0114 251 5801
email: office@cpa-uk.co.uk
www.cpa-uk.co.uk

David Goldie, Chief Executive (EQA)

DIARY DATES

CPA(EQA) Providers/Participants Meeting
Introducing the new CPA(EQA) standards
Wednesday 30 October 2002 – Royal College of Pathologists, London
50 places left

Understanding the New CPA Standards
One day courses for inspector re-training against the new standards have now been scheduled. Spaces have also now been made available for other interested parties. Venues and dates, together with the remaining number of places available, are as follows:

London	3 October 2002	50 places
London	4 October 2002	60 places
Manchester	15 October 2002	fully booked
Birmingham	24 October 2002	40 places
Birmingham	25 October 2002	70 places
Edinburgh	12 November 2002	70 places
Glasgow	13 November 2002	70 places
Bristol	12 December 2002	70 places

CPA Annual Conference 2003
Thursday 20 March 2003 – The Commonwealth Institute, London
Programme to be announced. Advance bookings are now being taken.
Registration fee: Ł110 (to include lunch and refreshments)

If you wish to register for any of the above meetings, please contact CPA Central Office.

Christmas / New Year Holidays

The CPA Office will be closed as follows:
Wednesday 25 December 2002
Thursday 26 December 2002
Friday 27 December 2002
Wednesday 1 January 2003