In this past month, haematology has again featured prominently in national conversations on research and policy. Investments into blood cancer research continue to expand our understanding of diagnosis and outcomes. At the same time, the launch of the National Cancer Plan on World Cancer Day has reinforced the importance of ensuring that blood cancers are properly represented in national strategy.
BSH, Blood Cancer UK, the Royal Colleges and other relevant organisations contributed to the consultation phase, and it’s encouraging that the Plan explicitly recognises blood cancers, commits to improving early diagnosis and reducing emergency presentations, and supports innovation, clinical trials, and personalised care - all of which are crucial for our patients and our specialty.
Recent collaborative funding for paediatric leukaemia research further underlines the impact that partnership between charities, academia and the NHS can achieve. And the broader international academic efforts, such as those around MRD (minimal residual disease) as a surrogate endpoint in haematology oncology trials, will accelerate new therapy approvals.
Key areas of progress will be presented at the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) meeting this week, hosted at the Royal College of Physicians, and I am very much looking forward to attending. Meetings such as this remind us how dynamic and rapidly evolving our field is, and they showcase the intellectual curiosity that makes haematology such a rewarding specialty.
It is precisely this vibrancy in Haemato-oncology and Medical Haematology that we must continue to communicate to students, trainees and early-career doctors as we think about recruitment into our profession. One tangible way to support colleagues at all stages of their careers is through coaching and mentoring - I have personally found being a mentor incredibly rewarding. Members can sign up on the British Society for Haematology website, which provides a help section and resources for both mentees and mentors.
In that context, I was pleased to chair the Intercollegiate Committee on Haematology this month. Over the next two years, we will focus particularly on recruitment, training and examinations - critical pillars in securing the future strength of UK haematology. Ensuring that we attract talented individuals, support them through high-quality training, and maintain robust and fair assessment processes is central to sustaining excellence in patient care, research and laboratory science.
The challenges in these areas should not be underestimated. They include the unequal distribution of training and consultant posts across the UK; the continued rise in less-than-full-time training (now 44%); and the significant reliance on International Medical Graduates to fill training posts compared with UK graduates. These pressures are compounded by capacity and funding constraints within the Royal College of Pathologists to accommodate all candidates wishing to sit examinations, as well as the need to implement safeguards to prevent a recurrence of the technical issues experienced in the last sitting.
The recently announced planned expansion of haematology posts, relative to oncology, does not yet reflect the scale of need within our specialty. Alongside Annette Nicholl, Chair of the Haematology Specialist Advisory Committee, we have written to the National Cancer Lead to request inclusion in cancer plan implementation discussions, to ensure that haematology is appropriately represented as these policies move from ambition to delivery.
BSH is also increasing the involvement of the multidisciplinary team, which is central to the management of patients with haematological disease. It was fantastic to see such engagement and hear innovative ideas from pharmacists, dietitians, nurses, biomedical scientists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and lifestyle medicine experts at the BSH Supportive Care SIG Prioritisation Workshop this week. Events like this reinforce the importance of collaboration across specialties in delivering the highest-quality care and supportive strategies for our patients. The Supportive Care SIG session at the BSH Annual Scientific Meeting will include fascinating presentations on the role of dietary fibre in shaping the microbiome, how exercise may augment patient immunity, and the science underpinning psychological prehabilitation.
The Annual Scientific Meeting promises to be outstanding once again. Each year, the breadth and depth of engagement increases - not only in delegate numbers, but in abstracts, scientific sessions, industry representation and symposia, charity partners, discussions on the BSH stage and participation in social events.
If you have not yet registered, I strongly encourage you to do so - the early-bird deadline closes on 2 March. I very much look forward to seeing many of you there.