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

Shared best practice and real-world experience from across Ireland: enhance your service delivery
Developed with convenience in mind: join this online course remotely
Are you from industry or a commercial company and interested in sponsoring?
9:00 |
Registration, technical support and networking opportunity
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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
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POCT Beyond COVID | |
9:40 |
Streamlining POCT in the years following the COVID pandemic
Joanne Jackson Deputy Chair of the NI Pathology Network POCT Specialty Forum and POCT Coordinator in Northern Health and Social Care Trust
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10:10 |
Question and answers with your speaker
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Expanding into the Community | |
10:20 |
Case study: unlocking POCT’s power in healthcare transformation
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10:50 |
Question and answer with the speaker
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11:00 |
Screen break
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Navigating Connectivity in the Hospital | |
11:30 |
Interactive discussion: Get connected: Real solutions for POCT integration
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11:50 |
Feedback from interactive discussion: Get connected: Real solutions for POCT integration
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Enhancing accuracy in technology | |
12:00 |
Elevating blood gas analysis to ensure quality and accuracy
Dr Verena Gouden, Consultant Chemical Pathologist, University Hospitals Galway
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12:30 |
Question and answers with your speakers
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12:50 |
Chairs closing remarks and close of day
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First-hand speaker experience
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.
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.
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.
Expected attendees
Past attendee feedback
‘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…
But don't take our word for it. We have had some excellent feedback from attendees to the forums that have been held to date:
"Forum was managed extremely well, and very professional"
IAPT National Networking Online Forum 2021 - 21st January 2021
“I am sure like everyone else I was apprehensive with going online, not sure how we could network, the ability for all participant's to participate and the quality of the presentations - all my fears were diminished this turned in to be a great day, networking, leading and sharing still occurred and links still formed. The presentations were excellent and the quality of the forum and set up great and so easy to follow and timing excellent.”
Reduce Paediatric Emergency Attendance Online Conference – 8th October 2020
“The conference has been far more engaging than in a conference centre. This I think is because of the ability to participate in chat throughout and the use of the breakout discussions.” “Excellent day! Organisation was great - loved the break out rooms for chat. Virtual chat added another really useful way to interact during the day, which isn't available to us at the physical conferences.”
Leading Change in Clinical Coding Online Conference - 11th September 2020
"Very informative, lots of opportunity for discussions and very well organised virtually"
Providing Support for Children on Long Term Ventilation - Tuesday 9th March 2021
I enjoyed the group chats networking listening to others experiences, I also like that there was a lead on each group so the chats were influenced and no awkward silences that can occur on web meets. I thought the larger talks were really good and easy to listen to.
Modernising Outpatient Services Online Conference – 16th September 2020
“This is my first experience of an online conference and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wasn't sure what to expect. Would recommend to colleagues to attend future events” “This has to be the best online conference I have been to, I really enjoyed the breakout rooms”
Advancing Ulcer Care Management Online Forum – 29th September 2020