Our governance

Details of the structure of the UK National Screening Committee and its expert and advisory groups.

UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC)

The chair, vice chair and members of the committee are listed below and on the UK NSC home page. Other people who may attend UK NSC and expert group meetings are listed below.

The UK NSC register of interests lists any private interests of committee and expert group members that may conflict, or be perceived to conflict, with their duties on the committee.

Committee members

Officials

Secretariat

  • Professor Anne Mackie (UK NSC screening policy lead and Deputy Director of Prevention Services, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC))
  • Mr John Marshall (Evidence Lead, UK NSC)
  • Ms Zeenat Mauthoor (Secretariat Expert Committee and DHSC Policy Liaison Manager, UK NSC)

UK four country representatives

  • Dr Carol Beattie (Senior Medical Officer, Northern Ireland)
  • Ray Smith (Head of Screening Policy, DHSC)
  • Dr Heather Payne (Consultant Paediatrician, Senior Medical Officer for Maternal and Child Health, Welsh Government)
  • Dr Tasmin Sommerfield (National Screening Oversight, NHS Scotland)

Observers

  • Rebecca Albrow (Associate Director, NICE)
  • Martin Allaby (Consultant in Public Health and Evidence-based Healthcare, NICE)
  • Prof Peter Bradley (Government of Jersey)
  • Nicola Brink (State of Guernsey)
  • Gareth Brown (Director of Screening, NHS National Services Scotland)
  • Harrison Carter, (Director of Screening, NHS England)
  • Dr Suzanne Crowe (Chair of the National Screening Advisory Committee, Republic of Ireland)
  • Dr Lisa Douet (Senior Research Advisor, National Co-ordinating Centre for HTA)
  • Roberta James (Programme lead, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN))
  • Dr Meng Khaw (Public Health Director, Public Health Wales)
  • Professor Zosia Miedzybrodzka (Clinical Lead of the Scottish Genomics Network)
  • Dr Tracy Owen (Consultant in Public Health Public, Health Agency Northern Ireland)
  • Susan Spillane (Assistant Director, Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Ireland)
  • Angela Timoney (Chair, SIGN Council)

Expert and advisory groups

Fetal, maternal and child health (FMCH) group

The FMCH group advises and supports the UK NSC in its work to consider evidence and make formal recommendations on screening for health conditions affecting babies, mothers and children.

See also FMCH terms of reference and FMCH register of interests.

Adult Reference Group (ARG)

The ARG advises and supports the UK NSC in its work to consider evidence and make formal recommendations on screening for health conditions affecting adults.

See also ARG terms of reference and ARG register of interests.

Research and Methodology Group (RMG)

The RMG aims to keep up to date with ongoing research related to screening, identify UK NSC research requirements and advise on mechanisms to address them.

See also RMG terms of reference and RMG register of interests.

Blood Spot Task Group (BSTG)

The BSTG supports the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) in identifying practical and innovative approaches to developing evidence to support recommendations relating to blood spot screening for rare diseases.

See also BSTG terms of reference and membership.

Recruitment to expert and advisory groups

Roles and responsibilities  

Individuals who are interested in a role with one of the UK NSC expert reference groups require relevant knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to the provision of high quality and well considered advice to the UK NSC. They will contribute to the goals of the UK NSC and help ensure that the benefits of screening outweigh potential harms.  

They will be responsible for providing, from their specific perspective, advice, insight and constructive challenge to the expert group. They will ensure that the group adheres to its terms of reference and maintains focus on the bigger picture for the conditions within its remit. Members will ensure that evidence-based guidance forms the basis of advice to the UK NSC.

Qualities required  

Individuals must be able to demonstrate they have the qualities, skills and experience described in the criteria below.

Individuals considering applying must not do so with the intention of representing or lobbying on behalf of any specific stakeholder, population or interest group.

Applicants must live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Criteria for expert roles  

Expert roles are those where someone is appointed because of their professional experience.  

Expert members must:  

  • be highly experienced and a practising expert with a track record in screening  

  • have a commitment to public health issues  

  • appreciate the complexities and wide-reaching implications of health screening programmes  

  • be able to absorb and analyse complex information and scientific and medical data  

  • be able to assess and apply relevant knowledge and skills to identify important issues and actions needed, from a neutral position  

  • have the capacity to commit and prepare for the 3 or 4 meetings per year for the reference group; this will involve reading and contributing to the development of evidence products, both at and between meetings  

  • help develop evidence-based, workable solutions to complex issues  

  • offer sound judgement with an ability to consider issues from an impartial and balanced viewpoint  

  • be able to engage effectively, using knowledge and skills, to make impartial and persuasive arguments based on sound understanding of the evidence available  

  • have an ability to challenge and guide discussions  

  • have an understanding and commitment to providing independent advice to government

Criteria for patient and public voice roles  

Patient and public voice (PPV) roles are those where lay members are appointed with personal experience or knowledge of the issues faced by members of the public as part of health screening programmes.  

PPV members must:  

  • have a sound understanding of what population health screening is and is not  

  • be able to appreciate the complexities and wide-reaching implications of health screening programmes  

  • have a good understanding of how the NHS works and a desire to make an effective contribution as a representative of patients, carers and members of the general public  

  • have an ability to ensure that the patient voice is present and powerful; this will involve speaking confidently at meetings and presenting views in a coherent and concise manner  

  • have an appreciation of the necessity of considering varying points of view and respecting them  

  • have an ability to maintain a neutral/objective stance and to listen, add value and challenge appropriately  

  • understand and agree that they must bring an individual nonmedical/scientific perspective to the discussion and decision-making process  

  • have the time and commitment to prepare for and attend the 3 meetings per year of the reference group; this will involve reading and assimilating large amounts of complex health-related information in a limited time-frame as well as attend a PPV forum held 3 times per year 

  • have an ability and willingness to commit to reading and providing feedback on research and review documents circulated by email between the 3 reference group meetings  

  • be self-motivated, independent and, after induction to the reference group, be comfortable participating without ongoing guidance or support and interacting with expert clinicians and health policymakers  

  • have some knowledge of research techniques and/or statistics to understand research findings  

  • have access to appropriate technology and be IT literate  

  • have an interest in supportive background reading and information assimilation

  • have experience in working with committees in other settings

Time commitment  

The expert reference groups meet 3 to 4 times a year for a full day. These meetings take place just before the main UK NSC meeting so that advice from the expert groups can be fed into the committee.  

There may be additional workshops or meetings pertinent to the conditions covered by the reference group that members can beneficially attend or participate in.

Travel, expenses and payments

This is a voluntary role. Reference group members can claim expenses in accordance with DHSC rules for travel, subsistence and overnight accommodation.

Accountability  

Members will be accountable to the chair of the reference group and to the UK NSC secretariat for carrying out their duties and for their performance.

Conflict of interests  

Members are required to declare any private interests that may, or may be perceived to, conflict with their role and responsibilities as a member of the group, including any business interests and positions of authority outside the role of the group.  

If selected, members are required to declare these interests which are entered into a register and published.

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