Important developments in cervical screening

You may be aware of some recent developments in cervical screening that affect sample takers across our region. This information covers:

New developments	Who is it for?	How/when should it be done?
Training day for nurse sample takers	Nurses who began taking samples before 1998 and don’t have evidence of competency assessment	Once – then local update session every three years
E-learning tool	Anyone who takes cervical samples	Every three years in conjunction with local update session
Sample taker database	Anyone who takes cervical samples	To be used in everyday practice

 

TRAINING

If you are a nurse sample taker

There is a new training package in place for all nurses who began taking samples before 1998 and do not have evidence of having undertaken a practical competency assessment. 

If you are one of these nurses you should book onto the free course by completing the application form – please note this should be returned to the Quality Assurance Reference Centre (QARC) at the address provided on the form.

Please note – the term “grandfather clause training” is used throughout. This basically refers to training which has been developed for one specific audience – sample taking nurses who started before 1998 and don’t have relevant evidence of having had a competency assessment with their employer.

The next available training dates are below but please check the QARC website for any changes:

 

Date	Location
3 February	The Source, Meadowhall, Sheffield
7 February	Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield
14 February	Tollbar CFC, Grimsby
15 February	The Freedom Centre, Hull
21 February	The Bridge Hotel, Wetherby
29 February	The Source, Meadowhall, Sheffield
6 March	Norton Education Centre, Stockton on Tees
7 March	City Library, Newcastle
9 March	QARC, Raynham House, Leeds
13 March	Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, Durham
20 March	Norton Education Centre, Stockton onTees

 

The benefits of undertaking training

This training is free for all nurse sample takers who fit the above criteria. The benefits of nurses undertaking the training include: 

• A chance to meet with peers and discuss the latest developments; 
• Ensuring knowledge is up to date and meets best practice; 
• Enabling a better patient experience; 
• Potential to further improve technique and reduce repeat smears; and 
• Nurses will be certified to work for another three years before the next assessment is due.

E-LEARNING

A new package has been developed to ensure consistency and quality in update training for sample takers across Yorkshire and theHumberand the North East.

The training is free to access and should be completed by all sample takers every three years.

This training package does not replace local update sessions. The e-learning should be undertaken in conjunction with attending a local update every three years to ensure you have all the information you need to take successful cervical samples. 

How to access the e-learning package

The e-learning tool takes around three hours to complete. You can get onto it by visiting the e-learning website

At the end of the session you will be able to print off a certificate to keep in your training records. It is recommended that you also send a copy of your certificate to the Quality Assurance Reference Centre – the address is:

Quality Assurance Reference Centre
Ground Floor
Raynham House
2 Capitol Close
Capitol Park West
Leeds
LS27 0WH 

SAMPLE-TAKER DATABASE

A new sample taker database is being rolled out across the region to provide a more robust coding system for sample takers.

All samples takers with evidence of competency assessment will be registered on the system by the local screening lead. Once registered, you will receive an email containing a password to log on to the new database.

You will also be given a unique code which will become your new sample taker code. Every sample taker in the region will have their own system-generated code, which will be five digits long and start with an “A”. Sample takers who are undergoing training will also have their own code but it will be six digits long and end with the letter “T”.

Each practice has been asked to nominate a sample taker co-ordinator who will enrol on the site and their upload the details of other samples takers in their practice onto the system. If you have been nominated by your place of work to be their co-ordinator you can register here - www.cstd.neyhqarc.nhs.uk/admin  

Please note - your NMC registration needs to be valid. This is checked as part of the registration process.

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is the “grandfather clause”?

As part of the changes to cervical screening you will come across the phrase “grandfather clause”. In the screening programme this is being used to describe nurse sample takers who began taking samples before 1998 and have not been competency assessed by their employer. 

This is an important group of staff because the training available since then has improved and become more robust. 

These nurse sample takers are now being encouraged to undertake new training to ensure they have access to the same up to date, high quality training as new sample takers. 

Useful documents

• Practice manager’s letter – retraining of nurse sample takers 
• One day course – programme 
• One day course - application form 
• QARC newsletter – training and e-learning 
• Letter from Dr Keith Faulkner, regional director for quality assurance (Jan 12) – sample taker database 
• Database user guide
• Cytology Screening Programme – The introduction of HPV triage 

Further information

Full information about changes to the cervical screening programme can be found on the Quality Assurance Reference Centre (QARC) website