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ACB Government Affairs Officer

Public Relations and Public Affairs
Communications Strategy
Media and Communications Training
Monitoring Government Output
Collaboration
Work in Progress

Mr Joe O'Meara - Government.Officer@acb.org.uk

I was very pleased to be appointed to this exciting new post in April 2006. I began my working life as a Clinical Biochemist when my main interests were laboratory informatics and enzymology of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. I kept an active interest in the Association throughout my later career in NHS management and information services and then in the Houses of Parliament.

Working in Parliament gave me a first hand understanding of the machinations of the political mind and the bureaucracy of the administration. I have done my best to apply that knowledge in my work with the Association. It is no simple matter in the present political and economic climate to promote reason and common sense in improving health care but the Association continues to “punch above its weight” in public affairs.

Two issues are very clear in this area –

Politicians are only interested in listening to messages when they believe the people delivering them can be influential in their re-election.

The Department of Health does not want to deal with a plethora of organisations advising them on how best to spend public money on health care.

These have had significant influence on my activities. Raising our public image has been an initial priority in order to be able to demonstrate to politicians that we have some influence with voters. Collaborating with fellow organisations in Laboratory Medicine has been another priority – both to address the second issue and to ensure that limited resources are pooled to the best effect.

The ACB, Royal College of Pathologists, Association of Clinical Pathologists and Institute of Biomedical Sciences are collaborating more closely than ever before and this is reflected in their joint sponsorship of the Labs Are Vital™ initiative which also facilitates our promotion of common interests with our suppliers, through the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association.

The links below will led you to more detailed information on our Government Affairs and promotional activities of which the forthcoming “National Pathology Week 3rd – 9th November 2008” is a significant series of events. You will see from the work planned in the immediate future that I hope to involve members throughout the association’s regions in these activities.

Joe O'Meara, August 2008