The PQT Conference: a Pathology in Practice event

Practitioners in biomedical science and laboratory medicine constantly come under pressure in a number of significant ways, each one of which adds to the daily working demands. Key elements of this pressure are to:
* Perform at the highest level
* Maintain or improve on quality measures
* Become involved in the ever-increasing move towards point-of-care testing
* Find time to reflect on service improvement and CPD
* Provide an environment that is conducive to training

This is by no means an exhaustive catalogue of the demands placed upon those who work in the disciplines across the breadth of pathology, but many of these issues will fall prey to the imperative to meet targets in an environment where increasing workloads and reduced funding are uncomfortable bedfellows.

Performance, quality and training
This one-day PQT Conference aims to provide support in these areas and give delegates the opportunity to debate the issues with the speakers and their peers. The programme has been designed to offer wide-ranging appeal, covering professional issues such as the introduction of key performance indicators (KPIs), quality, the accreditation of a point-of-care testing (POCT) service, continuing professional development from the IBMS and HCPC perspective, and training. Speakers on the programme will include representation from The Royal College of Pathologists, NHS Improving Quality, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Institute of Biomedical Science. In addition, the views of those working in the laboratory environment will also be presented.