Thu 11 Sep 2025 09:00-12:50
Online Forum, 3 CPD Hours

All-Ireland Point of Care Testing online forum: free to attend for healthcare professionals 

Designed to bring you up to speed with all the latest technology being developed for POCT, this all-Ireland meeting will offer practical solutions to the key barriers and enable you to embrace the technology of the future.

Join POCT professionals for a dynamic morning packed with real-world insights, expert-led sessions, and practical examples of what works. Whether you’re navigating post-COVID governance challenges, aiming to improve accuracy and connectivity, or expanding POCT into the community – this is your chance to benchmark your progress, learn from your peers. Walk away ready to elevate your service.

Another event of interest: Delivering POCT: Diagnostics in the Community, Manchester

Standardising POCT for Ireland
Online 3 CPD hours Free

Shared best practice and real-world experience from across Ireland: enhance your service delivery

Are you striving to optimise and strengthen your POCT service? If yes, then join us and network with colleagues at this All-Ireland, free online forum. Book your place and don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to focus on:

  • Achieving sustainable and successful connectivity both in the laboratories and in the wider community
  • Overcoming post-COVID hurdles in accreditation, connectivity, and governance
  • Discovering how POCT is leading diagnostic innovation in the community
  • Learning about Northern Ireland’s new POCT strategy to enhance regional healthcare delivery

Developed with convenience in mind: join this online course remotely

Packed with examples of best practice, case studies and expert advice, plus benefit from:

  • Meeting each other – turning on your videos and microphones in the breakout rooms
  • Listening and watching presentations and speakers’ Q&A – in the main conference room with your chair
  • Taking part in facilitated interactive sessions – enabled by moderators in the breakout rooms
  • Feeding back and engaging – using the chat box and moderators sharing content in the main conference room

Are you from industry or a commercial company and interested in sponsoring?

We would be delighted to discuss all of the available opportunities for you to get involved. Please email Sarah Kemm or call 01732 897788.

9:00
Registration, technical support and networking opportunity
9:30
Chair’s opening remarks and introductions
Dr Jenny Hamilton, Chair, Northern Ireland POCT Specialty Forum, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, Southern Health and Social Care Trust
POCT Beyond COVID
9:40
Streamlining POCT in the years following the COVID pandemic
  • Overcoming your common challenges: accreditation, connectivity and governance post-COVID
  • Scanning for the future: establishing POCT at the forefront of diagnostics
  • Upcoming strategy for POCT implementation in Northern Ireland
Joanne Jackson Deputy Chair of the NI Pathology Network POCT Specialty Forum and POCT Coordinator in Northern Health and Social Care Trust
10:10
Question and answers with your speaker
Expanding into the Community
10:20
Case study: unlocking POCT’s power in healthcare transformation
  • Discovering efficient strategies to expand POCT into the home
  • How we overcame integration gaps across EPRs into the community
  • Empowering clinicians and enhancing patient outcomes to revolutionise rapid diagnostics
10:50
Question and answer with the speaker
11:00
Screen break
Navigating Connectivity in the Hospital
11:30
Interactive discussion: Get connected: Real solutions for POCT integration
  • What challenges are you facing when integrating POCT with EPR?
  • Share how your service is tackling barriers to connectivity?
11:50
Feedback from interactive discussion: Get connected: Real solutions for POCT integration
Enhancing accuracy in technology
12:00
Elevating blood gas analysis to ensure quality and accuracy
  • Navigating the differences between instruments: ensuring consistency
  • Clarifying the variance between blood gas analysers and laboratory results
  • Case-study: a quality improvement initiative—boosting accuracy, reducing errors, and enhancing patient safety
Dr Verena Gouden, Consultant Chemical Pathologist, University Hospitals Galway
12:30
Question and answers with your speakers
12:50
Chairs closing remarks and close of day

First-hand speaker experience

A unique forum packed with examples of best practice, case studies and expert advice from:


Job Title:
Chair & Consultant Clinical Biochemist
Organisation
Northern Ireland POCT Specialty Forum & Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Biography

After completing a PhD in Diabetes in The Queen’s University of Belfast, Jenny embarked on a career as a Clinical Scientist in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. She was the Principal Clinical Scientist in the Regional Toxicology Laboratory from 2013-2021, before taking up her current position as a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry and POCT in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. Jenny is the current Chair of the Northern Ireland POCT Specialty Forum. She is also the STP training officer for Biochemistry in Northern Ireland, a member of the RCPath NI Council, and an associate editor for Labmed News. 


Job Title:
Deputy Chair and POCT Coordinator
Organisation
NI Pathology Network POCT Specialty Forum and Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Biography

Joanne Jackson serves as the Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Pathology Network Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Specialty Forum and is the POCT Coordinator for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. In these roles, she plays a pivotal part in advancing POCT services across the region, focusing on enhancing diagnostic efficiency and patient care through rapid testing solutions. Her leadership contributes significantly to the development and implementation of POCT strategies within the healthcare system.


Job Title:
Consultant Chemical Pathologist
Organisation
University Hospitals Galway
Biography

Dr. Verena Gounden is a Consultant Chemical Pathologist affiliated with Galway University Hospitals. She holds an MBChB (summa cum laude), FCPath (Chemical Pathology), MMED (Chemical Pathology), DABCC, and PhD. Dr. Gounden's research interests encompass mass spectrometry clinical applications, pharmacogenetics, and biomarkers of renal disease. She has contributed to over 50 publications, reflecting her active engagement in clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine. Her work includes studies on steroid profiling, quality control in laboratory testing, and the clinical utility of mass spectrometry in hormone analysis. Dr. Gounden's expertise and contributions have significantly advanced the field of chemical pathology.

Free attendance


Interested in joining us as a sponsor?

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

Once you have booked your place, SBK Healthcare will correspond with you using the email address you provided at the time of booking. Within one week of the online conference taking place, you will be sent final details of the course including a full agenda, programme timings and your Zoom joining instructions. This email will include a joining link that can be used to access the conference.

If you have not received your email two days before your event, do check your junk folder then contact SBK Healthcare on 01732 897788.

Practice sessions are available and you will be sent an invitation to join one of our delegate practice sessions. These are optional but great if you are unsure of whether your camera and microphone will work on Zoom. We hold several one hour practice sessions across the week when a member of SBK Healthcare staff will be waiting in Zoom to assist you. Please do pop in, say hello and make sure you are all set for the day.

On the day, when registration starts, you will be able to join the conference by initially entering a waiting room when there may be a short wait. In groups of between 6-10 people, you will be admitted into the main conference room to be greeted by a member of SBK staff. In the same group you will be taken into a breakout room and asked to turn on your video and microphone. A member of the SBK team will get your group started with some orientation tasks and ‘ice breaker’ topics, before leaving you to network.

When you are automatically brought back into the conference room for the start of the conference, you will be asked to turn off your camera and microphone so that the chair can start the forum. During each presentation you will be able to ask questions in the chat box function. The forum will include screen breaks, as well as topic themed interactive sessions which will take place in the breakout rooms.

Click here to view the specially created a 5-minute video that will walk you through how to get the most out of attending your SBK Healthcare interactive online forum.

 Certification of attendance

A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every fully registered participant who completes the course, as a record of your continuing professional training and development.

Registration fees

As an NHS or public sector attendee, you are not required to pay for your place. However, as an interactive forum, there are a limited number of places available. Once booked, if you find you are unable to attend, please cancel your place in writing by emailing the bookings team. This will free a place for someone on the waiting list. Non-attendance without written cancellation will result in £100 plus VAT charge.

Modify registration

To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email the bookings team.

Substitutions

Substitutions for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.

Event changes

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavour to keep you abreast of such changes. Should the event be postponed, we will endeavour to reschedule the event. If, for reasons beyond the control of the conference organiser, the event is cancelled, we do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.

Privacy notice

To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy.

Expected attendees

This online meeting is ideal for All-Ireland POCT Professionals in laboratories, hospitals and community services. This includes but is not limited to:

  • POCT Leads and Coordinators
  • Biomedical Scientists (Senior Biomedical Scientist, Specialist Biomedical Scientist)
  • Consultants and Clinical Scientists (Consultant Clinical Biochemist, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Principal Clinical Scientist)
  • Point of Care Testing Managers, Practitioners and Leaders
  • Associate and support roles (Medical Laboratory Assistant)
  • Executive, Director and Programme Leads (Chief Medical Scientist, Programme Director, Clinical Director) 
  • District and Community Nurses

Past attendee feedback

After holding the hugely successful POCT National Networking Forum in 2025 which saw over 90 NHS professionals networking and engaging with colleagues from all over the UK, we are bringing this informative educational event to All-Ireland! Just take a look at how much past attendees enjoyed the training:

‘Good opportunity for networking’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘The day was really good, in a good venue, with a variety of good speakers’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Really enjoyed it, very informative’

Delivering a Connected Virtual Ward POCT, Online, February 2025

‘Very informative’

Delivering a Connected Virtual Ward POCT, Online, February 2025

‘Very positive and inspiring’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Excellent network event with extremely useful updates in’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Very interesting and informative, good variety of topics covered’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Fantastic agenda, relevant and pertinent’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Really good opportunity to network and share ideas’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Excellent networking event with POCT teams across UK’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Great experiences and valuable lessons learned’

POCT National Networking Forum, Birmingham, March 2025

‘Excellent! Always open and full of new friends, a supportive community in POCT. Excellently managed day and delivered well and to time’

POCT National Diagnostics Forum, Birmingham, April 2024

‘Very useful knowledge/networking. Good organisation

POCT National Diagnostics Forum, Birmingham, April 2024

‘Really inspiring and informative – far exceeded my expectations’

POCT National Diagnostics Forum, Birmingham, April 2024

An online forum like no other…

A live event that will feature leading presentations, interactive breakout rooms, and compelling Q&A discussions

As a sponsor you will have the opportunity to present your product or service, be a ‘face’ of the event and meet your audience face-to-face to discuss their experiences, interests and key concerns.

To find out more about sponsorship contact Sarah Kemm on 01732 897788 or you can email Sarah. Your organisation could be sponsoring this forum today!

  • Your organisation featuring on this forum website as ‘sponsored by’; including your logo, promotional text and links to your URL
  • 5 minutes presentation time during the main conference and taking part in the related speaker Q&A
  • Unique opportunity for the sponsored presenter to moderate one of the interactive breakout rooms
  • Additional company representatives can attend the online conference and meet the attendees during the interactive sessions in the breakout rooms
  • Your logo or company name will be included in all correspondence we send to registrations and all promotional emails sent out when marketing
  • Your support and sponsorship will be recognised when you are thanked at the opening and closing of the online forum as well as your logo featuring on the opening and closing slides
  • All sponsors will receive a copy of the registration and attendee list
  • Plus: a one-off option to add your question to the registration form, asking if attendees would like to share their email address with you so you can keep them informed after the online forum