Well, what an uplifting event we had in Glasgow - thank you for the positive feedback! It was truly inspiring to witness the breadth and depth of science and progress on display. The commitment of our research teams and the mentoring and development of trainees were particularly heartening. The plenary lectures were outstanding, and the awards were richly deserved- for top publications in our journals, early career prizes, the BSH medal, and lifetime achievement, as highlighted in my April message.
I was also pleased with the success of our new “Behind the Scenes” sessions on the silent BSH stage, which brought several of our projects and dedicated volunteers into the spotlight. Our industry partners were delighted with increased engagement in the exhibition hall and the interest shown at their stands, so thank you for contributing to that success.
We fully embraced Scottish traditions with the pipes, drummers, and ceilidh, and the mass of kilt-walkers passing by enhanced the authenticity. I hope you’ve enjoyed your photos, whether a professional headshot or one accessorised with oversized glasses and cowboy hats at Platform 😊.
Finding venues large enough for our needs is increasingly challenging, so we’ll return to Liverpool next year, this time with a full Beatles theme!
Before then, there is much to do. Many interesting projects are underway, and we continue to support your innovative ideas, which come thick and fast.
I’m pleased to share that our advocacy efforts are making waves. Following last month’s haematology workforce roundtable in Parliament, hosted by Clive Jones MP and informed by our research with London South Bank University, several key questions have been raised with the Department of Health and Social Care.
In response, the government has since confirmed that haematology will be featured in the upcoming National Cancer Plan, with input from a broad range of stakeholders, including clinical experts, charities, and patient groups. There is also a commitment to strengthen clinical academic roles in blood cancer and implement recommendations from Lord James O'Shaughnessy’s review on commercial trials, which he eloquently spoke about at the ASM.
Workforce development is also seeing momentum, with plans to expand training posts, strengthen the scientific pipeline, and ensure access to Clinical Nurse Specialists and other key roles through the NHS Personalised Care model.
However, challenges remain. There is still no clear strategy for retaining expertise following NHS reorganisation, reducing reliance on locums, or supporting staff wellbeing beyond current tools. We also continue to lack data on haemato-oncologist numbers and dedicated workforce targets. Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, has assured us that haematology will be considered in the National Cancer Plan, and we’re hopeful that a dedicated parliamentary debate will soon be scheduled.
We’ll keep pressing for progress and update you as we go.
Aligned with our recruitment goals for the specialty, our upcoming education programme spans all stages of haematology careers. This includes development events for HSST scientists, a return-to-work day, and our annual ST3 induction to welcome new trainees. We’re currently developing content for our IMT days in Leicester and London this autumn, and exploring new educational resources for nurses and new consultants. We’ve also confirmed haematology sessions for both the RCP Med Conference and the British Blood Transfusion Society.
It’s a busy and exciting time. We’re enormously grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity of our 600 volunteers - thank you for everything you do.