Biomedical Science Education and Practice in Ireland

1
Biomedical Science Education and Practice in
Ireland

• Dr Tom Scott
• School of Biological Sciences
• Dublin Institute of Technology

2
Developments 1950s

• IBMS qualifying professional body.
• Intermediate examination.
• multi-disciplinary
• Final examination.
• Specialist subject.
• Associateship of IBMS.
• Fellowship of IBMS- final examination in second
  subject.

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Developments in UK

• The IBMS adopted the ONC/OND and HNC/HND system
  for qualification in 1965.
• An Irish equivalent, specifically for MLS, was
  established in 1966.
• IBMS introduced the Special Fellowship
  examination.

4
Course Structure in Ireland

• Certificate course-.
• Multi-disciplinary.
• One year full time.
• Two years block release.
• Two blocks each of six weeks duration.
• Diploma course.
• Major in one MLS discipline.
• Two years block release.
• Two blocks each of twelve weeks duration.

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Revised Certificate Course

• In 1979 the course was restructured.
• Two year full-time College course.
• One year Clinical Laboratory Placement
• Approved training laboratories
• Log-book
• Assessment
• Multi-disciplinary Training
• Students paid a training grant.

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Fellowship of IBMS

• IBMS modified the requirements for Fellowship in
  1980s.
• Mandatory course attendance
• Project component
• In 1987 the IBMS introduced the new Part I and
  Part II Fellowship course.

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Employment grades

• Basic Grade Medical Laboratory Technician.
• Certificate in MLS
• Senior Medical Laboratory Technician.
• Diploma in MLS
• Medical Laboratory Technologist or a Chief
  Technologist.
• Fellowship of IBMS

8
Degree Course Development

• First Degree courses in Biomedical Science
  appeared in the UK in the late 1970s.
• The University of Ulster introduced a Degree
  course in the early 1980s.
• In the Republic of Ireland the DIT introduced a
  degree course in 1989 and a joint UCC/ CIT degree
  course commenced in 1990.

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Degree course structure and content

• Five year course inclusive of clinical
  laboratory placement year.
• DIT
• Initial years multi-disciplinary
• Final years Major and minor in MLS and Biology
  of Disease
• CIT/UCC
• Initial years multi-disciplinary
• Final years multi-disciplinary

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Requirements for Employment

• The Department of Health and Children altered the
  requirements for employment in 1997.
• Applicants must possess
• BSc in Biomedical Science
• Or possess a recognised equivalent qualification,
• and be a member or be eligible for membership of
  the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science.

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Post-Graduate Development

• During the 1980s an increasing number of staff
  sought to attain post-graduate qualifications
  both through taught MSc courses and attaining MSc
  or PhD by research.
• Interest in attaining qualification by Fellowship
  examination declined.

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Post-Graduate courses

• MSc in Biomedical Science commenced in University
  of Ulster in late 1980s.
• MSc in Molecular Pathology, jointly taught by the
  Faculty of Health Sciences , Trinity College and
  the School of Biological Sciences, DIT, commenced
  in 1997.

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Professional Developments

• The Medical Laboratory Technologists Association
  was founded in 1960.
• Significant improvement in the salary scales and
  promotional grade structures.
• Medical Laboratory Science became an attractive
  career.

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Academy of Medical Laboratory Science

• Formed in 1970 to promote the academic
  development of Medical Laboratory Science.
• The Academy gradually became more intimately
  involved in professional and educational
  developments and is now the major force in this
  area.
• In 1996 the Academy was appointed by the Minister
  of Health as the Designated Authority.

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Impact of Educational Developments

• The thrust for degree course development was
  driven by a recognition of the increasingly
  scientific nature of Medical Laboratory Science.
• The profession sought the formal recognition of
  this by a change in title for medical laboratory
  science staff and the introduction of a unified
  career structure.

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Staffing Structure 2001

• Pathologists-Laboratory Directors.
• Medical Laboratory Technician / Senior
  MLT/Medical Technologists/Chief Technologists.
• Biochemists, Basic/ Senior/ Principal/Top Grade.

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Expert Group Report

• Recently Expert Groups were established, by the
  Department of Health and Children, to examine
  the changing role of the health care
  professions, the impact of educational changes,
  career structures and designated title.

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Expert Group Report

• Change in title to Medical Scientist.
• Staff grade Medical Scientist
• Senior Medical Scientist
• New grade, Specialist Medical Scientist
• Chief Medical Scientist
• Salary scales for Biochemists and Medical
  Scientists be equalised, supporting the concept
  of a unified career structure.
• Potential for Consultant level Scientist posts in
  all disciplines to be evaluated.

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Current Perspectives

• While the primary function is for service
  provision and development, there is a also a
  complementary research function.
• In Ireland, because of the educational
  developments at undergraduate and post-graduate
  level, both of these functions can be addressed.
• The move towards a more unified career structure
  will ensure that progression can reflect the
  aspirations and abilities of staff.

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Back to the Future

• Major educational and professional changes have
  occurred over a forty year span.
• Entrants to the profession can now realistically
  aspire to achieve the highest level of
  professional /scientific appointments.
• The Academy has a significant role to play, in
  securing the future development of the
  profession and in reinforcing our ability to
  contribute to the development of the Science of
  Pathology.

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An Deireadh

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