News
AAPT membership renewal 2019/20 - Chair Report
The AAPT susbcription year runs from 1st April to 31st March each year
Chair Report 2019 - an update from Ishbel Galll
I am writing for the final time in my role as Chair of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (AAPT) to remind you that another membership subscription year is upon us.
Introduce a Colleague
Once again membership fees have been kept at the same level as last year and as an added bonus we are offering 50% off the 2019-2020 subscription for introducing a newly proposed or lapsed member. The new, or rejoined, member will also receive 50% off the annual subscription fee for this year; terms and conditions can be found on the AAPT website.
Annual Educational Event
2018 as always was a busy year and the AAPT annual conference was held in London at the Holiday Inn Regents Park. This year in response to comments from you, the membership, this is being rebranded as “The AAPT Annual Educational Event”; it is hoped this will enable more APTs to gain funding in order to attend and participate in activities.
The 2019 event will be held in Edinburgh at the Royal College of Surgeons & Ten Hill Place Hotel on the 28th September, the provisional programme information is on-line and booking is open.
The poster competition this year focuses on CPD and entries must be received by 31st August, the prize this year being a day delegate place for the 2020 event. Members are also invited to submit an abstract to AAPT in order that we can have three APTs give short presentations on a relevant topic and this has proved to be very popular & informative.
Other events including consent training
As part of your membership you receive reduced fees, or free entry, to AAPT training events and many are indeed hosted in London as this is an easy place for many to access. This year we held a Mortuary Managers day and DVI Awareness day at Coldbath Square and it is not too late to register for the Consent Training Day in May this year. We can arrange events in other areas subject to provision of accommodation and a minimum number of delegates.
Social media platforms
Social media continues to be a platform for raising the professional profile and we have many members actively tweeting information, @AAPTTweets is the official AAPT twitter account and Christian Burt, our secretary, ensures we maintain a high profile, especially with our partner organisations.
The official member Facebook group continues to be a great platform for professional and technical interaction.
Level 3 and 4 Diploma
The Level 3 & 4 Diplomas in Anatomical Pathology Technology are now both being hosted by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust with a number of APTs completing the Level 3 “top-up” qualification in order to access the Level 4 Diploma.
Stakeholder engagement
AAPT continues to work with relevant partner agencies including RSPH, who support our qualifications, IBMS, the HTA and RCPath. Working with other stakeholders and the HSE the updated “Managing infection risks when handling the deceased” was finally published last summer.
There have been an increasing number of mortuaries singled out for awards at a local level within trusts and events such as Dying Matters Awareness Week have helped raise a positive profile, dates this year are 13th - 20th May 2019.
Welcome new Chair and Vice-Chair
At the AGM 2019, Mr John Pitchers will take on the role of Chair and Mrs Lydia Judge-Kronis Vice-Chair of your professional body and I am sure you will join me in wishing them both every success in the coming years.
John and Lydia will continue to lead the professional body’s quest for registration and maintain links with relevant stakeholders.
AAPT will be looking for nominations to join Council in September and I would encourage anyone who thinks they have the enthusiasm, areas of specialist knowledge, as well as a little bit of time to bring something to the Council to put themselves forward; a broad range of professional knowledge and experience is required so applications are welcome from APTs working in all sectors.
I personally would like to thank all council members, past and present, and co-opted members for their help over the years.
Thank you all for your continued support for AAPT
Kind regards,
Mrs Ishbel Gall BSc, FAAPT, FRSPH, MIBMS