EQA Scheme Management Office Cellular Pathology, Maidstone Hospital, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ

• Telephone: 01622 225738
• Email: mtw-tr.EQA@nhs.net
• Organiser: Dr Nipin Bagla
• Manager: Mrs Gill Donald
• Administrator: Mrs Louise Knowler
• Quality Manager: Mrs Helen Dasley

The South East England General Histopathology EQA Scheme is a consensus based External Quality Assessment scheme approved by the Royal College of Pathologists based on the guidance “Principles and Guidance for Interpretive External Quality Assessment Schemes in Laboratory Medicine” RCPath 2017 (G153),  and accredited to ISO17043:2010.

The Scheme performs External Quality Assessment for Consultant Histopathologists in General Histopathological practice and also has an educational element. Three times each year, ten cases are circulated that are representative of a routine workload together with two slightly more difficult / unusual cases of educational value which are not scored.

Participation in the South East England General Histopathology EQA Scheme is open to any consultant pathologist or Associate Specialist within Essex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, South London, or Wales but consideration will be given to applicants outside the area on a case by case basis, including overseas. Long-term locum pathologists are also able to participate, subject to the payment of the current subscription rate.

There are three circulations each year beginning January, May and September. Laboratories are arranged into groups with an order of circulation within each group. Ten cases are circulated representative of a typical diagnostic workload. These cases are contributed from participants working in UKAS 15189:2012 accredited laboratories. Two cases are also circulated that are more unusual and are for educational purposes only. These cases are clearly identified and are not used for personal analysis.

• Each submitted diagnosis for a case is scored based on the percentage of respondents offering the same diagnosis.
• This is refined at the consultation stage, where suggestions for merging synonym diagnoses are sought. It is important that you participate in the consultation process.
• Personal scores are based on the submitted confidence level for the proffered diagnosis. A perfect score is only achievable if 10 points were allocated to a single (correct) diagnosis.

For further detail, see the scoring protocol presentation.

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Earn 2 CPD points for answering the general cases

Earn 1 CPD point for answering both educational cases

Earn 1 CPD point for completion of the case consultation

Earn 1 CPD point for attendance to the case discussion meeting

Please take care of the slides whilst in your care ensuring they are not marked with anything, kept out of direct sunlight and labels are not removed.

Should you have any problems with the slides when they arrive, or whilst they are with you, please telephone the EQA office straight away.

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Round aa has now closed. 

Please note that your results are now available to download via  EQALite www.histopathologyeqa.org

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• Round aa Final Case Analyses Round aa (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round z Final Case Analyses Round z (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round y Final Case Analyses Round y   (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round x Final Case Analyses Round x  (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round w Final Case Analyses Round w (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round v Final Case Analyses Round v (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round u Final case analyses Round u (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round t Final case analyses Round t (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round s Final Case Analyses Round s (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round r Final Case Analyses Round r (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round q Final Case Analyses Round q (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round p Final Case Analyses Round p (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round o Final Case Analyses Round o (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round n (links to slides within case analyses document)
  
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round m (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round l (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round k (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round j (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round i  (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round h (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round g (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round f (links to slides within case analyses document)
  
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round e (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round d (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round c (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round b (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round a (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round ZZ (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round YY (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round WW (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round VV (links to slides within case analyses document)
• Round n Final Case Analyses Round UU (links to slides within case analyses document)

Enhance your professional development and earn CPD points

Share your clinical cases and earn CPD points

For each submitted case, you will earn 1 CPD point.
By sharing your clinical cases, you contribute to the collective knowledge base of our professional community.
Please submit 12 duplicate H&E slides per case please.
Download the Case Submission Form

Engage in Collaborative Learning: Join Our Case Discussion Meetings

We believe in the power of collaborative learning.
Our virtual lunchtime Case Discussion Meetings offer you the opportunity to engage with fellow professionals in the field.
During these meetings, we discuss the results of the consultation process for each round, allowing you to understand the reasons behind merging, excluding, or overriding cases. This enhances your understanding of the scoring process and empowers you to improve your response to cases.

1 CPD point is awarded for attendance to the meeting.

Represent Your Region: Additional CPD Points for SAP Meeting Attendance

As a respected clinician, you have the opportunity to become a representative for your region within the Scheme Advisory Panel (SAP). By attending SAP meetings, you can network with colleagues, earn 1 CPD point, stay informed about the latest scheme advancements, share valuable insights, and contribute to the growth of our scheme.

We will inform you of any opportunities when a vacancy becomes available.

Join our community of dedicated clinicians today and take advantage of these opportunities to further your professional development.

The scheme advisory panel consists of representatives for each region. They meet to discuss scheme issues. Please contact them with any suggestions for improvement to the scheme or other issues.

Surrey  Dr L Fulford – East Surrey Hospital – Laura.fulford@sash.nhs.uk
Sussex   Dr Z Al-Shiekh Ali –  Eastbourne Hospital – zainab.alshiekhali@nhs.net
Kent  Dr A Goel – Maidstone Hospital – Amitgoel@nhs.net
London  Dr M Moonim – Imperial College London – Mufaddal.Moonim@nhs.net
Essex  Dr M Sundaresan – Southend University Hospital – Maryse.sundaresan1@nhs.net
Wales  Dr S Roberts – Singleton Hospital – Shaun.Roberts@wales.nhs.uk

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Case Discussion Presentation Round aa

Case Discussion Presentation Round z

Case Discussion Presentation Round y

Case Discussion Presentation Round x

Case Discussion Presentation Round w

Case Discussion Presentation Round v

Case Discussion Presentation Round u

Case Discussion Presentation Round t

Case Discussion Presentation Round s

Case Discussion Presentation Round r

Case Discussion Presentation Round q  

Case Discussion Presentation Round p

2024 AGM Minutes

2023 AGM Minutes

2022 AGM Minutes

2021 AGM Minutes

2020 AGM minutes

2019 AGM minutes

2018 AGM minutes

2017 AGM minutes

2016 AGM minutes

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• Quality Policy 
• Participant Manual
• Quality Manual
• Certificate of UKAS accreditation
• Privacy Notice
• Guidelines for using digital images for EQA

We endeavour to run this scheme to your complete satisfaction. If you have a concern, please contact the EQA scheme office at mtw-tr.EQA@nhs.net in the first instance.

If this does not resolve your issues and you wish to make a formal complaint, this will handled in compliance with the Trust complaints policy and procedure. Click here for the Complaint Flowchart

Thank you to all those who have taken the time to respond to our surveys.

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Participant Survey – ISO Standards – April 2024

Participant Survey – Slide Preference – Jan 2023

Participant Survey– Consultation Timeframe – Aug 2022

Participant Survey – Certificate of Participation – Jan 2022

Participant Survey – 10th Category – Nov 2021

Participant Survey – Case Discussion Meeting Feedback – August 2021

Participant survey – General EQA Survey – May 2020

Participant Survey – EBUS Clot Survey – February 2020

Participant survey – AGM – March 2019

Participant survey – Case Submission – September 2018

Participant survey – Digital image survey – March 2018

Participant survey – General survey – November 2017

Participant survey – complaints and appeals – July 2017

Participant survey – new case submission – March 2017

Participant survey – website & digital slides –  November 2016

Participant survey – results suspected collusion –  July 2016

Participant survey – results on AGM attendance – March 2016

Participant Survey – results on use of digital slides – July 2015