Wed 24 Apr 2024
Past event

This unique forum brought together immunology professionals from across the country to discuss and develop new ways to carve out the immunology service pathway. Attendees discovered how automated testing can increase capacity whilst updating your testing practice and were inspired by services leading the way in novel testing and UKAS standards. Attendees left with the confidence to drive forward new advancements and hone in on their existing skills to ensure that their laboratory is delivering the most up-to-date, collaborative care. 

With thanks to our industry partners:



Immunology National Networking Forum 2024
Past event

An in-person conference that engaged NHS professionals from across the country

Participants took part to ensure their immunology laboratory continues to deliver stand-out best practice by:

  • Understanding how to effectively utilise ISAC testing for allergies
  • Raising best practice approaches for myeloma screening to reduce result variations
  • Learning tips and tricks from services that have achieved and maintained accreditation
  • Networking with colleagues and find solutions to shared challenges
  • Establishing how automation can increase capacity in your laboratory
  • Scrutinising the new UKAS standard update through first hand experiences of implementation
  • Improving your MDT working with primary care services to reduce inappropriate test requests
  • Advancing your service quality with first hand experiences of the accreditation journey

With thanks to our industry partners

SBK Healthcare would like to thank Sebia and Binding Site for exhibiting at this unique forum.

9:00
Registration, refreshments and networking
9:30
Chair's opening remarks
Chris Scott, Scientific and Operational Lead, Barts Health NHS Trust
Validation, accreditation and quality improvement
9:40
Applying validation to your immunology service: exploring quality improvement and accreditation
  • Taking the next steps to drive forward quality in your immunology service and investigations
  • Working collaboratively to achieve accreditation for your immunology service
  • Exploring alternative quality improvement strategies: what could work in your laboratory?
Dr Elizabeth Walker, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Barts Health NHS Trust
10:10
Question and answers with your speakers
10:20
Roundtable discussion: What experience do you have of implementing new UKAS standards?
  • How far along the implementation stages is your service?
  • What would you like to see in the UKAS update? What impact do you think it will have?
In groups, based on your table, this is a great opportunity share your experiences and work through the challenges.
10:40
Roundtable discussion feedback: What experience do you have of implementing new UKAS standards?
10:50
Networking break
11:10
Shared experiences of driving forward quality improvement in our service
  • What processes did we implement to boost quality improvement in our lab?
  • Avoiding common pitfalls and easing the journey to accreditation
  • Enhancing quality improvement to improve patient outcomes
Leanne Hall, Lead Biomedical Scientist, Laboratory Manager, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Ensuring quality in your laboratory
11:40
Ensuring quality in your immunology service: exploring the best use of EQA services
  • Utilising EQA data to drive forward quality in your immunology service
  • Working collaboratively with other labs and EQA providers to benefit your immunology service
  • Exploring alternative EQA approaches- what could work in your laboratory?
Dina Patel, Scientific Director, UK NEQAS Immunology Immunochemistry and Allergy
12:10
Questions and answers with your speakers
12:20
Networking lunch break
ALP testing
1:20
The A to Z of Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Understand the genetics, structure and biological function of ALP isoenzymes
  • Review the methodological principles of ALP isoenzyme analysis and how to interpret the results of this test
  • Appreciate the main pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical aspects of ALP isoenzyme analysis
Dr Dan Turnock, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Dr David Wile, Retired Chemical Pathologist
1:50
Questions and answers with your speakers
2:00
Roundtable discussion: Improving communication between primary and secondary care
  • How can we nurture a positive working relationship between GPs and immunology labs?
  • What examples can you share of MDT collaboration?
  • What experiences do you have of EPHR?
2:20
Roundtable discussion feedback: Improving communication between primary and secondary care
2:30
Networking break
Research spotlight
2:50
Investigating the immunopathogenesis of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and associated comorbidities
  • How is the immune system different in JSLE?
  • Why is cardiovascular disease the leading cause of mortality for patients?
  • Why is the disease so dominant in females (80%)?
Dr George Robinson, Research Fellow, University College London
3:20
Questions and answers with your speakers
3:30
Roundtable discussion: Evaluating your key learning outcomes
  • Take time to consider and share with your peers what you have learnt today. Has anything surprised you? What will you take back to your team? What do you want to achieve next?
3:50
Chair’s closing remarks
4:00
Close of day

First-hand speaker experiences


Job Title:
Scientific and Operational Lead
Organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Biography

Job Title:
Consultant Clinical Scientist
Organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Biography

Job Title:
Lead Biomedical Scientist, Laboratory Manager
Organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Biography

Job Title:
Scientific Director
Organisation
UK NEQAS Immunology Immunochemistry and Allergy
Biography

Job Title:
Consultant Clinical Biochemist
Organisation
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Biography

Job Title:
Retired Chemical Pathologist
Organisation
Biography

Job Title:
Research Fellow
Organisation
University College London
Biography

Dr Robinson completed his PhD in immunology at University College London in 2018, where he has since continued his research as a principal investigator and Career Development Research Fellow in the Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology. Dr Robinson's multi-award winning research is aimed at understanding both immune and metabolic pathological mechanisms of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and associated comorbidities. Investigating early disease pathogenesis in younger patients can allow early intervention to improve long-term prognosis. His research uses extremely rare patient cohorts to combine immunological laboratory techniques, in-depth multi-omic (immune-phenotype, proteomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic) data, and artificial intelligence modelling to understand the disease.


Past attendee feedback

This event followed on from ‘The Future of Immunology Service Delivery’ held in February 2020 and ‘Immunology Challenges and Changes’ held in January 2021, check out how previous delegates have described this and previous events:

"Great interaction and collaborative event. I was able to meet and introduce myself to many people"

Barts Health NHS Trust, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"Informative, engaging and knowledgeable"

BCPS, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"I enjoyed the topics, they were current and informative"

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"Great opportunity to meet up with colleagues and meet new people. Good discussion of current challenges"

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"Interesting and interactive! I came home with a list of action points and questions and met some new people"

ESEL, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"Very educational and relevant to science"

Teesside University, Immunology National Networking Forum 2024

"Interesting to see how the lab can work with clinical and patient teams to benefit all”

Northern Devon Healthcare Trust, Immunology Challenges and Changes

“Good topic, presentation and content”

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Immunology Challenges and Changes

"Very relevant and engaging. Good networking opportunities!”

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, The Future of Immunology Service Delivery

"Well-rounded programme"

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, The Future of Immunology Service Delivery

"Really friendly and welcoming thank you! Very informative to hear about what our colleagues are doing in their own organisations"

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Future of Immunology Service Delivery

"An excellent event with fantastic speakers and an excellent opportunity for networking"

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Future of Immunology Service Delivery

View further comments on SBK Healthcare events on Trust Pilot.

Adding their unique perspective, we were pleased to welcome our industry partners


If you are interested in joining Sebia and Binding Site to exhibit or sponsor at this event, please do email Sarah Kemm or call Sarah on 01732 897788

Why sponsor?

Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing forums offer dedicated presentation, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be full immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.

Interested in having your own event, managed by us?

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options, an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact: 

Sarah Kemm

Contact: 01732 897788 

Email: sarah.kemm@sbk-healthcare.co.uk

Thank you for attending an event by SBK Healthcare. We are pleased to offer you on-line access to the documentation that you received at the event. This is an exclusive benefit for all of the attendees and includes additional and updated documentation.