Update 60 - The United Kingdom Accreditation Service

Update 

March 2011 

Issue 60 

United Kingdom Accreditation Service Newsletter 

Three Diagnostic Imaging 

Services Awarded ISAS Pages 8-10 

Montenegro hosts 

the EA General 

Assembly 

page 02 

Think Tank 2010 

Less government – 

better outcomes? 

page 04 

Accreditation for 

Crime Scene 

Investigation 

page 11

Montenegro hosts the 

EA General Assembly 

The 26th General Assembly of the European cooperation for Accreditation was held in Budva, 

Montenegro on 24 and 25 November 2010. Montenegro is now an official candidate 

country of the European Union and its accreditation body, ATCG, will be eligible to become 

an Associate Member of EA during 2011. The meeting was formally opened by the then 

Minister of Economy of Montenegro, Mr Branko Vujovic. UKAS Chief Executive Paul 

Stennett participated on behalf of UKAS. 

The General Assembly discussed a wide 

range of topics that are important for 

the continued growth and development 

of EA as the official accreditation 

infrastructure in Europe. A revision of 

the Articles of Association and Rules of 

Procedure was agreed, to build upon an 

earlier revision completed in December 

2009. 

The General Assembly discussed the 

outline EA Strategy for the years 2010- 

2015, and mandated the Executive 

Committee to implement the proposals 

taking into account the various comments 

made at the meeting. 

It was agreed to sign a Framework 

Partnership Agreement and Operating 

Grant Agreement with the European 

Free Trade Association (EFTA). In order 

to support both this and the parallel 

agreements with the European 

Commission, internal processes and 

procedures of EA were also agreed. 

The General Assembly resolved that ISO 

14065 (Greenhouse gases – Requirements 

for greenhouse gas validation and 

verification bodies for use in accreditation 

or other forms of recognition) is identified 

as a new standard within the EA 

Multilateral Agreement and that the 

EA Horizontal Harmonisation Committee 

and the EA Multilateral Agreement 

Council start work as necessary to 

include the new activity and to prepare 

for the peer-evaluation process. 

Budva old town 

The Members of EA also considered the 

outcomes of the recent ILAC and IAF 

General Assemblies, and where necessary, 

passed resolutions to reinforce the 

implementation of these within the 

European accreditation region. Of 

particular note were the IAF Resolutions 

2010–09 (IAF/ISO Joint Communiqué on 

Expected Outcomes for Accredited 

Certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001) 

and 2010–10 (IAF/ISO Joint Communiqué 

on Certification to ISO 26000). The 

General Assembly also noted the 

resolutions of ILAC and IAF that agree 

that the responsibility for the scope of 

inspection be transferred from a joint 

IAF/ILAC activity to ILAC alone. 

Other topics considered by the General 

Assembly included: 

● A Contract of Cooperation was signed 

with the Egyptian Accreditation 

Council (EGAC) of the Arab Republic 

of Egypt. 

● It was noted that it is planned to 

relocate the EA Secretariat’s office in 

Paris in early 2011. 

● Proposals to revise EA documents 

EA-3/01: Conditions for Use of 

Accreditation Symbols and Reference 

to MLA Signatory Status, and EA-2/05: 

The Scope of Accreditation and 

Consideration of Methods and Criteria 

for the Assessment of the Scope in 

Testing, were approved. 

● The General Assembly endorsed a 

new work item to prepare a guidance 

document on Witnessing Practices for 

Management System Certification. 

The next meeting of the EA General 

Assembly will be held in Berlin in May 2011. 

02 Update March 2011 www.ukas.com

UKAS Director recognised in New Year 

Honours List 

Dr Jane Beaumont MBE 

Dr Jane Beaumont, Director of 

Accreditation at UKAS, has been 

appointed as MBE in the New Year 

Honours list. The citation for the award, 

for services to industry, recognises the 

enthusiasm, determination and technical 

ability that Jane has brought to UKAS 

and its predecessor organisations. It 

mentions in particular that Jane has 

been at the forefront of developing 

innovative uses for accreditation, 

particularly in support of Government 

and the wider public sector, such as 

healthcare, the national DNA database 

and forensic science. 

On hearing news of her award, Jane 

said: “I am delighted and privileged to 

receive this award. It is a recognition of 

the hard work and commitment of all 

UKAS staff in delivering the UK’s national 

accreditation service. Accreditation is 

an increasingly important part of the 

business support infrastructure in the 

UK, helping to deliver confidence in 

goods and services. This award also 

acknowledges the growing influence 

and recognition of accreditation across 

all industry and business sectors as well 

as in many other aspects of everyday life.” 

Jane began her career working as a 

food analyst, before conducting doctoral 

and post-doctoral research at the Royal 

Botanic Gardens, Kew and Kings College, 

London. She joined one of UKAS’ 

predecessor organisations as Technical 

Officer in 1987. Since then Jane has 

progressed to fulfilling the role of 

Director of Accreditation with overall 

responsibility for the delivery of 

established accreditation services and 

the development of new areas of 

accreditation. She has provided advice 

and training to emerging accreditation 

bodies overseas, as well as contributing 

to the development of European and 

international guidance on accreditation 

approaches in different technical areas. 

Jane was appointed Director of 

Accreditation in 2005 and is an 

Executive member of the UKAS Board. 

Lord Lindsay, UKAS Chairman said 

“I am delighted that Jane’s sterling work 

in helping to develop accreditation 

both in the UK and abroad has been 

recognised. UKAS as a whole can also 

take pride in this award, as it reflects 

what has been achieved by staff at all 

levels and on all fronts.” 

Technical Advisory Committees for 

Management System Certification 

UKAS has decided to review the Advisory 

Committees that exist to support the 

accreditation activities in the area of 

Management System Certification. As 

a result the decision has been taken to 

dissolve the existing committees for QMS 

and EMS, QMSAC and EMSAC, and replace 

them with a single technical advisory 

committee to support the accreditation 

of management system certification 

bodies. The scope of the new committee 

will be broader and will cover all the 

activities that are accredited under 

ISO/IEC 17021. The committee will also 

establish specific task groups and sub 

committees where necessary to support 

specific management system areas 

where there is a need to focus on issues 

unique to that particular area of 

management system certification, for 

example EMS and EMAS. 

The new Technical Advisory Committee 

will be established in accordance with 

UKAS procedures and UKAS will ensure 

that we have adequate technical 

expertise within the group as well as a 

balanced representation of interested 

parties. We are currently in the process 

of drafting the Terms of Reference for 

the Committee and determining the 

membership. Further information will 

be available on the UKAS website over 

the coming months. 

www.ukas.com Update March 2011 03

2010 Think Tank 

Less government – 

better outcomes? 

Lord Lindsay, UKAS Chairman, posed this question at a recent UKAS 

Think Tank event that considered the likely impact of the coalition 

Government’s interest in de-centralisation and reducing regulation. 

At the event, attended by an invited audience of 

senior government and business contacts, three 

keynote speakers were asked to consider how 

the spending review and related issues of 

reducing regulation and bureaucracy might lead 

to the greater use of alternative measures such 

as accreditation, inspection and certification. 

The challenge of change 

Kate Marshall, Deputy Director, Strategy Unit, Cabinet Office, 

focused on the challenge that government faces when tackling 

pressing policy issues, and how few can be addressed without 

thinking about the behaviour of individuals. Behavioural 

economics and behavioural science had provided valuable 

insights into why individuals don’t always behave as perfectly 

‘rational’ human beings. Marshall invited the audience to 

consider how difficult it sometimes is to achieve a seemingly 

simple and ultimately beneficial personal goal, like increasing 

our savings, or keeping up a fitness regime. 

Marshall said Governments often consider regulation when the 

long-term wellbeing of individuals or the wider community 

could be at risk. In responding to these situations, she 

confirmed the Coalition’s desire to develop policies that were 

less intrusive and imposed fewer costs on both business and 

society. Understanding how people behave and make decisions, 

and finding innovative ways to help ‘nudge’ individuals into 

making better, more informed choices were at the heart of 

the Government’s policy agenda. 

Devolved power: the need for specific limits and 

clear accountability 

Lord Bichard, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, 

drew upon his experience in local and central government to 

focus on the need for intelligent solutions. In particular he 

was concerned about the risks that overly detailed and 

prescriptive targets can represent – but he also highlighted 

the need to pass responsibility out from the centre and away 

from specialist silos. 

He saw successful government as one that is focused on 

outcomes rather than inputs and one that ensures 

accountability is spread logically. He emphasised the need to 

redesign the service not the structure. He speculated that 

less government is successful when it recognises the benefits 

of early intervention and prevention, and places the 

responsibility for this close to the ‘coal face’. 

Transformational rather than transactional change 

The final presentation from Sarah Veale, Head of Equality 

and Employment Rights at the TUC, came to a similar 

conclusion to the previous speakers, but from a slightly 

different view point. Focusing on the needs of employees 

and consumers as the potential beneficiaries of less 

government – she started by highlighting the risks this may 

represent – particularly the laws of unexpected consequences. 

Regulation can be removed, but only where there is an 

alternative solution and good buy-in from the relevant 

parties. The most successful route to lessening government 

is to encourage and set regulations that are led and 

implemented from the grass roots up. 

The ‘one in, one out’ approach was discussed as an 

opportunity to reduce poorly functioning and unnecessary 

regulations. The speaker liked the concept but highlighted 

the difficulty in achieving this, asking whether the kudos of 

removing legislation becomes as recognised as that of 


Kate Marshall Lord Bichard Sarah Veale 

Lord Lindsay 

making it. There would also need to be a clear measurement 

by which the replacement is marked against the outgoing 

regulation, in order to ensure it is ‘better’. The same system 

of measurement is needed to ensure the strategies being 

considered as an alternative to regulation are actually an 

improvement. The use of accreditation and standards has 

proved effective, but they are not suitable for every area. In 

promoting alternatives to regulation, it is vital to ensure that 

one onerous mechanism is not simply replaced by another. 

The influence of the media 

Key points raised in the open discussion highlighted the role 

of the media in influencing judgement, both for and against 

regulation. Illustrations of this were the typical labelling of 

new regulations as ‘nanny state’, compared with campaigns 

for action when things go wrong – such as the demand for 

the regulation of dangerous dogs. The consensus was that 

government should have a tool kit of approaches which 

should be used in consultation with all interested parties. 

Summary 

Summing up the debate, Lord Lindsay concluded that 

there was general agreement that better outcomes can be 

achieved with less government intervention provided that 

care is taken over what fills the void. A menu or package 

approach that matches the right solution to the problem 

should be the preferred route with standards and accreditation 

being considered as a valuable part of this multi-layered 

approach. He thought there was a clear message that the 

outcome or value of a proposed solution should be the 

over-riding focus, rather than the process involved in 

implementing it. But also an understanding that, if the right 

balance can be achieved, it will be to the benefit of 

Government, business and society as a whole. Lord Lindsay 

went on to assure those present that UKAS would continue 

to discuss with a wide range of government contacts how 

accreditation could make a greater contribution to the delivery 

of policy in these straightened times. He was encouraged 

that departments and agencies were increasingly turning to 

UKAS for help with a number of new policy initiatives. 

UKAS Think Tanks are organised, with the support of the 

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as part of the 

Accreditation Awareness Campaign. 


Global launch of 

IAF End User Survey 

The need for the International 

Accreditation Forum (IAF) to 

gain feedback from users of 

accredited services has been a 

long-standing issue for the IAF, 

and so a task force within the 

IAF Communications & 

Marketing Committee (CMC) 

was set up to launch an online 

survey. The survey aims to 

provide valuable insight into the 

drivers for certification, the 

importance of accreditation, and 

the value of the (Multilateral 

Mutual Recognition 

Arrangement) MLA. 

The survey was launched in over 55 

countries by Graham Talbot, Chair of 

the IAF CMC, at the Joint General 

Assembly in Shanghai on October 28. 

Accreditation Bodies have been sent a 

link to the survey together with 

instructions for promoting it in the local 

economy, including a letter template to 

send to Certification Bodies to encourage 

onward distribution. 

The survey will be promoted on the 

(International Laboratory Accreditation 

Cooperation) ILAC, IAF and Regions’ 

websites, and ISO CASCO has also 

agreed to promote it. 

If you would like to complete the survey 

please click on the link http://ukas. 

iafcertification.sgizmo.com 

The survey should take no longer than 

5 minutes to complete and your feedback 

is gratefully received. 

For further information, please contact 

Jon Murthy, IAF CMC Secretary 

(jon.murthy@ukas.com). 

The survey will last for one year (closing 

1 September 2011) and the results will 

be presented during the annual ILAC 

and IAF meetings to be held in Bangkok 

in November 2011. 


The European Parliament building – Brussels 

Changes to the 

Assessment of Notified Bodies 

For some time UKAS has acted 

on behalf of various UK 

Government Departments/ 

Agencies and other Authorities 

in the assessment of 

organisations wishing to be 

appointed as Notified Bodies 

for conformity assessment 

activities for many of the EU 

New Approach Directives. 

In response to a EU decision on a 

common framework for this marketing 

of products, a project is now underway 

to change the way in which such 

Notified Bodies are assessed for their 

conformity assessment activities. In 

future, conformity assessment bodies 

that wish to become Notified bodies 

will, in general, need to be accredited 

in accordance with the relevant ISO/IEC 

17000 or EN 4500 services standard 

and other Normative and Guidance 

documents; this represents a significant 

change in the process of appointing 

Notified Bodies and will help ensure an 

ongoing consistent and common 

approach across all Member States. 

UKAS has established a Steering Group 

for the project, involving, Competent 

Authorities and Notified Body 

representatives to implement and 

control this change over a two year 

transition period. The Steering Group is 

considering various aspects including 

the allocation of Accreditation 

Standards to each EU Directive, and the 

process for recommending and 

approving appointments. 

This change is taking place across 

Europe and UKAS has recognised the 

need to ensure that the approach taken 

in the UK is equivalent to that used in 

other EU member states and ongoing 

communication is included within the 

transition programme. 

For further information please contact 

Kevin Belson, Technical Manager 

(kevin.belson@ukas.com). 


Three Diagnostic Imagin 

UKAS is delighted by the success of three very different diagnostic imaging s 

The Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund (Cheltenham Imaging Centre), 4 Ways H 

were all successfully able to demonstrate to UKAS assessment teams conform 

were formally presented with their ISAS certificates at separate presentation 

The Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund 

(Cheltenham Imaging Centre) 

became the very first diagnostic 

imaging service provider to be 

accredited by UKAS against the 

ISAS Standard in early November 

2010. The medical charity has over 

40 years experience delivering 

imaging services to NHS, private, 

and medical insurance clients. 

Cobalt successfully achieved their 

accreditation one year on from 

formally applying for ISAS. The 

accreditation covers imaging 

activities delivered at the 

Cheltenham site and also 

mobile units. 

In recommending Cobalt’s accreditation, 

the assessment team commended 

Cobalt for employing the very latest 

state of the art technology and excellent 

facilities. During the assessment 

members of the local community 

described Cobalt’s staff as passionate, 

enthusiastic and approachable and were 

very appreciative of the excellent 

resources available to them locally. 

At a special ceremony held at Cobalt’s 

site in Cheltenham last year Lord Jamie 

Lindsay, UKAS Chairman, said: “UKAS is 

delighted to participate in this event 

which acknowledges the tremendous 

efforts made by all parties to achieve 

the first UKAS accreditation to the ISAS 

Standard. By participating in the 

accreditation process, Cobalt has not 

only shown its willingness to be open 

and transparent, but also that it is 

constantly working to develop and 

Lord Lindsay, UKAS Chairman, presents the accreditation certificate to Peter Sharpe, Chief 

Executive, Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund 

improve both clinical and patientrelated 

outcomes.” 

Peter Sharpe, Chief Executive, Cobalt 

on accepting the Service’s certificate 

said: “This is a very proud moment for 

all of us at Cobalt. Staff worked hard to 

achieve the ISAS accreditation, the 

process has been rigorous and 

challenging; it has helped us develop 

and improve services and also put 

in place a system for continual review 

and development. It is with great 

pleasure that we accept the ISAS 

Accreditation Certificate. We are also 

delighted to be the first ISAS accredited 

organisation, confirming that we provide 

a patient focused safe and efficient 

diagnostic imaging service.” 

In attendance at the ceremony were 

principal attendees from the owners of 

ISAS, The College of Radiographers (CoR) 

and The Royal College of Radiologists 

(RCR), the wider healthcare sector, 

dignitaries from Cobalt’s local community, 

and UKAS. 

During a series of speeches, Dr Jane 

Barrett, RCR President commented on 

the future for ISAS accreditation, said: 

“We congratulate Cobalt on its 

accreditation. We look forward to the 

accreditation of further diagnostic 

imaging services across the UK, 

highlighting radiology as a specialty 

leading on the highest standards of 

service provision and a real focus on 

quality improvement.” 


g Services Awarded ISAS 

ervice providers that have achieved UKAS accreditation to the ISAS Standard. 

ealthcare Ltd and The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

ity to the rigorous requirements of the ISAS Standard. All three organisations 

s to celebrate their achievements. 

Highlighting the increasing importance 

of accreditation in a changing health 

environment, Professor Audrey 

Patterson, SCoR Director of Professional 

Policy said. “It is great to see the first 

ever accreditation under ISAS. In the 

context of changes in commissioning of 

health care in England and of continuing 

scrutiny of quality care in all parts of the 

UK, it is more than ever appropriate that 

diagnostic imaging services are able to 

objectively demonstrate high standards 

of delivery. The core involvement of 

patients in the ISAS accreditation process 

adds even greater value to Cobalt’s 

achievement.” 

Paul Stennett, UKAS Chief Executive, presents the accreditation certificate to Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, 

Chief Executive, 4 Ways Healthcare seen here with Winifred Morley, Quality Manager, 4 Ways 

Healthcare 

Paul Stennett, Chief Executive, 

UKAS presented Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, 

Chief Executive, 4 Ways Healthcare 

Ltd and the team, the organisation’s 

certificate at their headquarter site 

in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. 

4 Ways Healthcare is a medically 

led specialist diagnostic reporting 

service currently working with more 

than 50 NHS organisations within 

primary and secondary care, 

delivering more than 100,000 reports 

in 2010. The accreditation covers 

the reporting activities delivered 

from their headquarter site. 

The assessment team commended the 

organisation for their rapid turn-around 

times, sub-speciality reporting and 

rigorous quality assurance. 

On receiving the organisation’s certificate 

Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, Chief Executive, 4 Ways 

Healthcare, said: “I am exceptionally 

proud in achieving this accreditation 

and believe it is testament to the hard 

work and diligence of our team. We 

have always shown a commitment to 

achieving the highest quality of radiology 

reporting; our clinical governance and 

rigorous recruitment process are central 

to this commitment. Preparation for 

the ISAS assessment helped our 

organisation step back and look at our 

processes objectively, subjecting them 

to increased scrutiny. We feel that 

positive improvements have been made 

to our internal processes and service 

provision by taking part in the assessment 

and aligning our processes and policies 

with the ISAS Standard. Now we have 

been accredited against the ISAS Standard, 

we have a high degree of confidence 

that we will comply with all other 

regulatory requirements, including The 

Care Quality Commissions requirements.” 

Continued on page 10 


Three Diagnostic Imaging Services 

Awarded ISAS continued 

The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals 

NHS Trust became the first NHS 

provider, and early implementer 

site to be accredited against the 

ISAS Standard. Dr Kane, 

Consultant in Radiology and 

Nuclear Medicine, Blackpool 

Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

accepted the certificate from 

Paul Stennett, Chief Executive, 

UKAS, the CoR and the RCR at the 

RCR’s headquarters in London. 

The organisation has a staffing 

complement of about 4,500 serving a 

population of approximately 330,000 

residents across Blackpool, Fylde and 

Wyre and almost 12 million holidaymakers 

who visit the area every year. The 

accreditation covers a range of services: 

computerised tomography; magnetic 

resonance imaging; mammography; 

PACS, radiography; radiology nursing; 

teleradiology; therapeutic radiology 

procedures, and ultrasound delivered 

across the Trusts five sites: Blackpool 

Victoria Hospital; Fleetwood Hospital; 

Clifton Hospital; Whitegate Health Centre; 

and Lytham Primary Care Centre. 

In recommending the accreditation 

the assessment team commended the 

Trust on its proactive approach to service 

improvements highlighting a range of 

good practice in service delivery, 

innovative skills mix and high levels of 

implementation of staff appraisals. 

On hearing the news of their award, 

Dr Graham Hoadley, Consultant 

Radiologist and National Clinical Lead 

for Service Improvement, said: "We are 

so pleased at receiving this ISAS 

accreditation and particularly proud to 

be the first radiology/diagnostic imaging 

service to do so within the NHS. This 

confirms the high standards of care 

delivered by our team. We have a long 

history of effective service improvements 

Dr Tony Nicholson, Vice-President & Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Radiology, RCR; Dr Kane, 

Consultant in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Richard 

Evans, CEO, SCoR and Paul Stennett, UKAS Chief Executive 

in radiology/diagnostic imaging and 

this is a well deserved reward for all our 

efforts. We are passionate about giving 

our patients peace of mind when making 

use of our services, and we believe that 

with this accreditation we can now 

demonstrate this commitment better 

than ever." 

Dr Tony Nicholson, Vice-President 

and Dean of the Faculty of Clinical 

Radiology, RCR commented: “Blackpool 

Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust can be 

very proud of being at the forefront of 

accreditation. Patients can be very sure 

that when they enter the radiology/ 

diagnostic imaging departments in 

Blackpool they will receive a safe first 

class service.” 

Richard Evans, Chief Executive, SCoR 

added: “This accreditation recognises 

not only a great deal of work but also 

many years of commitment by the 

whole team towards developing and 

promoting quality diagnostic imaging 

services. It is particularly timely for the 

first NHS based service to gain 

accreditation. As the pathfinder GP 

commissioning consortia begin to 

explore how to obtain the best services 

for patients, Trusts such as Blackpool 

that can demonstrate objective quality 

measures should be obvious choices for 

commissioners and patients alike.” 

Accreditation of these three very 

different diagnostic imaging service 

providers demonstrates the flexibility of 

the ISAS Standard to objectively assess 

good practice, and that different 

organisations are able to deliver high 

quality patient focused care and 

continuous improvement. 

Since ISAS’ launch in June 2009 many 

imaging services, both public and 

private, have applied for assessment, 

and we are pleased to report further 

organisations are in the application 

process. 

For further information about the 

accredited imaging services and about 

ISAS visit: www.isas-uk.org 


Accreditation 

for Crime Scene Investigation 

To progress accreditation in the crime scene investigation area, UKAS, 

together with other key stakeholders, has developed a project plan to identify 

the internal and external arrangements necessary to facilitate the assessment 

and accreditation of applicant inspection bodies to ISO/IEC 17020. 

UKAS is running a pilot programme 

with selected applicants to testout 

the assessment methodologies 

during the pilot phase. This will 

permit development of the scheme 

on an ongoing basis. Once finalised, 

the assessment methodologies will 

then be applied in a similar manner 

to all other bodies subsequently 

seeking accreditation in this area. 

The pilot bodies will be subject to the 

same rigorous assessments as for all 

UKAS assessment activities, but there 

may be a requirement for additional 

assessment effort within the pilot if 

identified as essential to ensure a robust 

assessment process and an accredited 

inspection service that satisfies the 

demanding requirements placed upon 

it by the UK’s criminal justice system. 

All pilot bodies fully satisfying the pilot 

and accreditation criteria will be granted 

accreditation on the same date. 

Accreditation demonstrates the technical 

competence and the impartiality and 

integrity of the organisations offering 

scene of crime investigation services. 

UKAS accreditation offers transparent 

solutions that deliver: 

Public trust: confidence that forensic 

and forensic related activities are carried 

out impartially and competently. 

One stop shop: accreditation has a 

broad application across the Home 

Office, the Police service and Government 

as a whole, covering multiple sectors 

and multiple disciplines in a consistent 

way. 

Cost reduction: organisations operating 

efficiently and effectively with oversight 

by UKAS, reduce the need for regulators 

or organisations to establish their own 

assessment and approval activities. 

For further information on the pilot 

scheme please visit: 

http://www.ukas.com/media-centre/ 

news/news-archive/2010/ISO_IEC 

_17020_for_Crime_Scene_ 

Investigation.asp 

Accreditation has underpinned quality 

assurance of forensic analysis for almost 

20 years, ensuring confidence of analysis 

of samples and results produced in the 

laboratory. However, until now the 

examination of, and collection of materials 

from crime scenes has not been 

covered by accreditation. Accredited 

examination and collection of materials 

from crime scenes will provide 

additional confidence in the integrity 

and chain of custody of the materials 

being collected. 


UKAS Brochures 

UKAS is recognised in many sectors ranging from Asbestos, Chemicals, Explosives, Food, 

Forensics, Healthcare, Toys to Water. To help UKAS emphasise the importance of 

accreditation and enhance the awareness of accreditation in different sectors, UKAS has 

developed a wide range of brochures. 

All these brochures are available to download in PDF from the UKAS website 

http://www.ukas.com/media-centre/promotional-material-and-downl/brochures.asp 

A high resolution print PDF can be requested by email to communications@ukas.com 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service 

Why we matter 

What we do 

Who we are 

UKAS-accredited services – a guide for small to medium businesses 

Do you use certification, testing, 

calibration or inspection services? 

If so… 

save time and money 

by using UKAS-accredited services 

Who is doing your calibration work? 

Are you confident that your goods and 

services and their component parts are 

based on measurements taken with 

correctly calibrated measuring equipment? 

UKAS Corporate brochure Guide for small to medium businesses Calibration services 

UKAS Accreditation 

A BRIEFING FOR COMMISSIONERS OF HEALTHCARE SERVICE S 

Accreditation: Underpinning Quality 

Healthcare Commissioning 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The need to drive up the quality of care for patients, whilst delivering 

efficiency and productivity, is a key principle for commissioners of 

healthcare services. UKAS accreditation is a tool that can be used to 

support the commissioning of healthcare services that are safe, effective 

and that continually improve the experience for patients. 

The influence and use of UKAS accreditation recognised standards. In response to a 

continues to grow across a wide range of new European Regulation (Regulation 

areas to support the delivery of informed EC 765/2008), UKAS has been formally 

and effective purchasing, good governance appointed as the National Accreditation 

and public confidence. As pressure on Body providing for the first time, a legal 

finances continues to build, accreditation basis for accreditation. 

is increasingly being seen as an effective 

way for purchasers to deliver ‘more for less’. UKAS is becoming increasingly active in 

the Healthcare sector. Details of areas 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service supported by UKAS accreditation are given 

(UKAS), as the national accreditation body, in this briefing. When commissioning 

is the only body recognised by Government, services in these areas, be sure to specify 

to assess and declare the competence of UKAS-accredited services. 

organisations against internationally 

“ 

Accreditation is absolutely 

essential to ensure quality 

of supply” 

Lord Carter of Coles, Chair, 

The Independent Review of NHS 

Pathology Services 

Accreditation in action: Accreditation in action: 

Diagnostic Imaging 

Health information standard 

Delive 

ering 

Con fi 

idence 

UKAS has been appointed by the Co lege of 

Radiographers and the Royal Co lege of Radiologists 

to manage and deliver a UK-wide imaging services 

accreditation scheme (ISAS). Under the scheme, 

jointly developed by the Co leges in co laboration 

with other health professionals and patients’ 

representatives, imaging services are assessed 

against agreed standards for quality, patientfocused 

care and continuous improvement. 

The scheme focuses on the delivery of high quality 

care for patients by professional staff working in a 

safe environment. The process of accreditation 

involves peer review against agreed standards and 

criteria supported by expert specialist advice and 

input from patient representatives. UKAS 

accreditation provides confidence in the quality 

and consistency of the imaging services delivered 

across the health sector. 

UKAS has developed accreditation for 

certification to the new Department of Health 

Information Standards. The standard sets down 

criteria for organisations providing written or scripted 

medical based patient information. Many different 

kinds of organisations produce health and social 

care information, for a wide range of communities. 

Thi standard has been developed to provide 

reassurance tha the health and social care 

information they access comes from a reliable 

source. It has also been designed to raise the 

general standard of information provided. Once an 

organisation has been assessed and certified against 

the Information Standard by a UKAS accredited 

certification body, the organisation wi l be able to 

display the Information Standard Quality Mark on 

their information material so people searching for 

health and social care information can easily identify 

it as coming from a reliable, trustworthy source. 

Imaging Services Accreditation Scheme 

Healthcare commissioning 


Who should you 

commission to carry out your 

surveys for asbestos? 

Stack Emissions Monitoring – 

Who can you trust? 

Do your 

inspection services meet 

your requirements? 

There are many companies that provide consultancy 

and surveying services, sometimes at what initially 

appears to be at low cost. However, before 

commissioning an organisation to undertake such 

work it is important to consider the risks: 

Are you confident that the 

organisation has the technical 

competence to undertake the work 

in question? 

Are you satisfied that the 

organisation has the resources to 

do the work? 

Are the surveyors working to 

suitable codes of conduct to ensure 

inspections are carried out 

impartially and with integrity? 

Are you confident that the 

organisation has an adequate 

quality system in place? 

Are you satisfied that safeguards 

are in place, e.g. suitable liability 

insurance, in case difficulties arise? 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 

(CAR 2006) and more specifically Regulation 4: 

The HSE is responsible for enforcing compliance 

with the regulations and penalties are awarded 

to persons who fail to ensure the safety of their 

staff and others present on site. 

Selecting an organisation accredited by 

the United Kingdom Accreditation Service 

(UKAS) will ensure that you are appointing a 

competent surveying organisation that will 

understand and meet your requirements. 

Accreditation: 

Ensuring technical 

competence 

The accreditation process 

determines the technical 

competence and integrity 

of organisations providing 

inspection, testing, calibration 

and certification services. 

UKAS is the sole national 

accreditation body, 

recognised by Government, 

to assess these types of 

organisations against 

international standards. It 

provides an independent and 

authoritative declaration that 

the organisation carrying out 

the survey has the people, 

facilities, technical expertise, 

management systems and 

track record to undertake 

the activity professiona ly 

and competently. 

“HSE strongly 

recommends the use 

of an accredited 

surveyor.” 

As anoperatorwithapermitfromtheEnvironment 

Agency under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 

(EPR), you will be aware that it requires you to ensure the 

monitoringofprocessemissionsisperformedcorrectly 

toensureyouremissionsarewithinthepermittedlimits. 

Wherethirdpartyorganisationsareusedtoconductthis 

monitoring, it is an Environment Agency requirement 

that the organisation holds accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 

for MCERTS for the monitoring being performed. 

What does MCERTS and ISO/IEC 17025 

Accreditation mean? 

Many organisations provide stack 

emissions monitoring services. 

Selecting a company accredited by 

the United Kingdom Accreditation 

Service (UKAS) to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 

for MCERTS is the best way to ensure 

you use a competent organisation 

that will both understand and meet 

not only your requirements but also 

those of the Environment Agency. 

UKAS, on behalf of the Environment Agency, 

assesses and accredits organisations to the 

Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for MCERTS 

provides an independent and authoritative 

declaration that the organisation carrying 

out the emissions monitoring has the 

people, facilities, equipment, technical 

expertise, management systems and 

track record to undertake the activity 

professionally and competently. 

If a stack emissions monitoring organisation 

who is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for 

MCERTS fails to meet these standards, 

then UKAS can impose sanctions on that 

imposed on stack emissions monitoring 

organisations can be found on their 

accreditation schedules at www.ukas.com 

This information stays on the accreditation 

schedule for two years from date of 

clearance of the sanction. 

Do you commission or procure the inspection of products, 

equipment, plants or buildings and processes? If you do, 

you will want to make sure that the organisation undertaking 

that inspection has the people, facilities, technical 

expertise, management systems and track record to 

undertake the inspection professionally and competently. 

The competence of the inspection Service (UKAS) is the sole accreditation 

body you appoint may be crucial to body recognised by Government to 

maintaining your reputation as a assess, against internationally 

responsible organisation. It is recognised standards, organisations 

therefore surprising that organisations that provide inspection services. 

are still tempted to use the service of UKAS combines a depth of technical 

inspection bodies whose competence knowledge and expertise built up 

has not been confirmed by an over many years with scientific and 

independent, authoritative third party. technical specialists operating across 

The United Kingdom Accreditation a range of inspection activities. 

What are your inspection needs? 

There are well over 250 UKAS accredited Typically, inspections will cover product 

inspection bodies in the UK mainly in the design, products, materials and equipment, 

following broad sectors: Engineering, installations, plant, processes and services. 

Food and Asbestos. So whatever your Some of these areas will be covered by 

inspection needs are in these areas, there legislation that demands regular inspection 

is more than likely a UKAS inspection body is undertaken, for example in the areas of: 

accredited to the international standard 

Lifts and Cranes 

ISO/IEC 17020 qualified to do the job. 

Hoists 

Machinery 

Pressure systems 

Electrical installations 

Escalators 

Non destructive testing 

Ventilation equipment 

Pre-shipment inspection 

Petroleum tanks 

Duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic 

Agency’s MCERTS (monitoring certification 

organisation. Sanctions include; additional 

properties sets a legal requirement for owners 

and occupiers of non-domestic buildings to 

carry out a suitable assessment to determine 

whether asbestos is present or liable to be 

present. 

scheme) performance standard. UKAS 

accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for MCERTS 

is a mandatory requirement for any 

organisation performing monitoring of a 

Part A1 site. 

assessment, partial or total suspension or 

in the most severe cases a total withdrawal 

of accreditation. 

Since 1st June 2009 details of any sanctions 

For further information visit www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos and www.ukas.com 

For further information visit www.ukas.com and www.mcerts.net 

For further information visit www.ukas.com 

Asbestos surveys Stack Emissions Monitoring Inspection services 

UKAS Accreditation: 

a tool to deliver effective Local Authority services 

A BRIEFING FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY HEADS OF SERVICE 

Accreditation can and does 

help to deliver public services 

in a changing regulatory 

environment 

UKAS accreditation interacts with Local Authorities on many levels: 

Assurance of the Assurance in the Assurance in the 

Authority’s own products and services products and services 

activities 

you procure 

you specify 

The Authority may have Products and services As a specifier, you will 

an accredited in-house that you procure will contract suppliers that 

facility such as a 

be sourced from are UKAS-accredited 

laboratory or inspection UKAS-accredited (e.g. planning and 

body. The Authority may laboratories or inspection building control, 

also hold UKASaccredited 

certification that hold accredited monitoring, asbestos 

bodies, or from suppliers environmental 

to demonstrate 

certification 

testing and 

compliance to a quality (QMS, Personnel etc). surveying etc). 

management system 

(QMS) or environmental 

management system 

(EMS). 

The accreditation process determines the technical competence and 

integrity of organisations offering testing, inspection, calibration and 

certification services. 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the only national 

accreditation body recognised by Government to assess these types of 

organisation against internationally-recognised standards and it does 

so across all market sectors by offering a single, transparent and 

repeatable approach which: 

● supports Local Authority enforcement and monitoring 

● builds business and consumer confidence by reducing risk 

● reduces the need for Local Authorities to employ their own 

additional specialist assessment personnel 

It is important to specify the appropriate requirements on suppliers 

according to the type of work required. For example, you can be 

confident in the technical competence and the results produced by 

testing and calibration laboratories if they hold UKAS accreditation to 

ISO/IEC 17025. UKAS accredited certification of a supplier’s management 

system to ISO 9001 tells you that they have arrangements for managing 

the quality of their product or service, but doesn't say anything about 

their technical competence. 

Accreditation in action 

Ensuring food safety 

“Accreditation plays a vital role in allowing us to deliver safe 

food and the healthier eating approaches that consumers want. 

UKAS provides the solid foundation of assurance on which we 

can rely in order to make good decisions – particularly in the 

area of enforcement”. 

Dame Deirdre Hutton, 

Chair Food Standards Agency 

Information security 

In addition to having accredited certification to ISO 9001:2000, 

Birmingham City Council achieved UKAS accredited certification 

to the information security standard ISO 27001 in December 

2005. This has enabled the Council to demonstrate credibility 

and confidence to its customers, whilst reducing the risk of 

information breaches. Independent third party assessment by a 

UKAS-accredited organisation underpins the Council's ability to 

achieve high standards of service delivery and corporate 

governance. 

Birmingham City Council 

www.ukas.com 

Accreditation Matters 

A BRIEFING FOR POLICY MAKERS Issue 7 

Accreditation: Strengthening 

links with Government 

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed 

as the National Accreditation Body for the United Kingdom, following 

the adoption of a new EU Regulation. 

The new Regulation (EC Regulation 765/2008), The new Regulation is intended to improve the 

which came into force on 1 January 2010, requires consistency of accreditation services across 

each member state to appoint a single national Europe by setting common requirements for 

accreditation body. UKAS has therefore been national accreditation bodies and requiring them 

appointed by statutory instrument providing, to be monitored by member state governments. 

for the first time, a legal basis for its role. The Regulation includes requirements relating 

to independence, impartiality and technical 

The Accreditation Regulations 2009 (Statutory competen ce. The Regulation also 

Instrument No 3155/2009) making the 

requires national accreditation bodies to operate 

on a not for profit basis and not to com- 

appointment were signed on 30 November 

2009 by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and pete with other national accreditation bodies. 

Innovation, and announced in a Written 

Statement to Parliament. In the statement, In support of the statutory appointment, BIS 

Lord Drayson said: “The Department for and UKAS have agreed a revised Memorandum 

Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has a longstanding 

and effective relationship with UKAS how the two organisations will work together 

of Understanding to provide further detail on 

that both parties value highly. We will continue to ensure that the accreditation system in the 

to work together not only to ensure that the UK continues t meet the requirements of the 

requirements of the EC Regulation are fulfilled new Regulation and the needs of business and 

but to improve the quality and breadth of society. 

accreditation in the UK.” 

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - UKAS' partner in Government. 


Helping 

Government 

achieve ‘more 

for less’ 

The influence and use of accreditation 

ontinues to grow across a wide range of 

Government policy areas including effective 

regulation, good governance, fair markets, 

public confidence and delivering ‘more for 

less’. Accreditation is being used by 

Government in a number of new areas 

such as healthcare and climate change (see 

case studies). As pressure on Government 

finances continues to build, accreditation 

is increasingly being seen as a market led 

solution to public sector imperatives. 

The accreditation process determines, in the public 

interest, the technical competence and integrity 

of organisations offering testing, inspection, 

calibration and certification services (collectively 

known as evaluation services or conformity 

assessment services). 

As the national accreditation body, UKAS is the 

only body recognised by Government to assess 

these types of organisations against internationally 

recognised standards and it does so across all 

market sectors by offering a single, transparent 

and repeatable approach which: 

! builds business and consumer confidence; 

! is voluntarily embraced by business; 

! enables innovation in the private and 

public sectors; 

! reduces the need for central and local 

government to employ its own specialist 

assessment personnel. 

If you are responsible for setting or 

implementing policies that involve any form of 

independent evaluation, UKAS can help in a 

number of ways including defining your needs 

or designing an assessment or accreditation 

service to suit your needs. 


A tool to support the criminal justice system 

The accreditation process determines, in the public interest, the technical competence and integrity 

of organisations offering testing, inspection, calibration and certification services. UKAS is the only 

nationalaccreditationbodyrecognisedbyGovernmenttoassessthesetypesoforganisationagainst 

internationallyrecognisedstandards. 

Confidence in Forensic 

Services 

Thereareanumberofthirdpartyassessment 

services available that can assist in providing 

confidence in activities that support the 

criminal justice system so it is important to 

choose the right one to get the right level 

of confidence. 


Accreditation is the only mechanism that 

determines the technical competence and integrity 

of the organisations offering forensic testing and 

inspection services. ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 

17020 not only contain requirements for the 

quality management system of the organisation 

but they also include detailed and specific 

technical criteria for the operation of the technical 

service including ensuring the competence of 

personnel. 

Management System Certification 

ISO9001:2000isagenericstandardforquality 

management systems applicable to all 

organisations irrespective of type, size or product 

or serviceprovided.Itcanbeapplicableto 

organisations that provide forensic services but 

certification against ISO 9001:2000 should 

not be interpreted to mean that an 

organisation has demonstrated the 

technical competence to produce valid and 

accurate information and results. This is 

becausewithcertificationtoISO9001:2000the 

emphasis is on establishing an organisation’s 

compliance with requirements for a quality 

management system. It does not contain technical 

requirements for personnel and operations. 

Personnel Certification 

Personnel certification (or registration) schemes do 

exist to provide confidence in the competence of 

individuals. The standards and criteria used to 

assess competence of personnel vary according 

to the scheme provider. These schemes focus on 

individuals’ competence but do not provide any 

assessment of the organisation within which the 

individual operates. Where this service is used it 

is essentialthatusershaveconfidenceinthe 

competence of the organisation that provides 

certification of individuals; this can be delivered by 

using an accredited Certification Body. 

Benefits of accreditation 

UKAS accreditation offers transparent solutions that deliver: 

● Public trust: confidence that forensic activities are carried out impartially and competently. 

● One stop shop: accreditation has a broad application across the Home Office, the Police service 

and Government as a whole, covering multiple sectors and multiple disciplines in a consistent way. 

● Flexible solutions: underpinned by requirements specified in regulations, standards or codes of 

practice. 

● Cost reduction: organisations operating efficiently and effectively with oversight by UKAS, reducing 

the need for regulators or organisations to establish their own assessment and approval activities. 

How will UKAS support the criminal justice system? 

Scene of Crime Examination 

Accreditation has underpinned quality assurance of forensic analysis for almost 20 years, ensuring 

confidence of analysis of samples and results produced in the laboratory. However, until now the 

examination of, and collection of materials from, crime scenes has not been covered by accreditation. 

UKAS has been working with ENFSI (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) and EA 

(European co-operation for Accreditation) to formulate a new and consistent approach to the 

accreditation of Crime Scene Examination throughout Europe. EA and ENFSI have developed guidance 

to assist with the application of the international standard ISO/IEC 17020 which will be used for the 

assessment and accreditation of scene of crime work. UKAS is also working with key stakeholders 

to ensure its process is robust and effective in determining the technical capability of crime scene 

units. 

Accredited examination and collection of materials from crime scenes will provide additional 

confidence in the integrity and chain of custody of the materials being collected. 

To findoutmore,pleasecontactian.ronksley@ukas.com 

Local authority services Accreditation Matters No7 Forensic accreditation 

Available soon... 

What is the right choice for you? 

Why leave your 

certification to chance? 

Is the laboratory you 

commission for your testing 

technically competent? 

If you are thinking about using testing, calibration, inspection or certification 

to support your business but you are not sure about the difference between 

accreditation and certification – we can explain! 

Accreditation – a means to So what does having What is the right choice? 

demonstrate technical accredited certification to 

competence 

ISO 9001: 2008 mean? You need to think about your business 

needs. Before choosing a supplier, 

Accreditation is the only process that ISO 9001: 2008 is the Quality Management remember: 

determines the technical competence Systems standard. An organisation that 

of organisations offering testing, calibration is certified to ISO 9001 means that Save time and money by selecting an 

or inspection services. 

the emphasis is on establishing an 

organisation that will understand and 

organisation’s compliance with 

meet your business requirements. 

If you require testing, calibration or requirements for a quality 

Using a UKAS accredited supplier can 

inspection activities that ensure management system. This generic 

be an invaluable tool in your decisionmaking 

and risk management. 

technical competence then you need standard for quality management systems is 

to use a UKAS accredited supplier. applicable to all organisations irrespective 

Check the scope of accreditation. 

of type, size, product or service provided. 

Each accredited body has a scope 

Accreditation to ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 

which details what their accreditation 

provides authoritative assurance of the Organisations that provide testing and 

covers. 

technical competence of a laboratory to calibration activities can be certified to 

undertake specified testing or calibrations ISO 9001 for their quality management ISO 9001 is a generic standard for 

and accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:1998 systems – but this should not be 

quality management systems 

provides assurance of a inspection body to interpreted to mean that an organisation applicable to all organisations 

undertake competent inspections. These has demonstrated the technical 

irrespective of type, size or product 

standards also include the principles of competence to produce valid and accurate or service provided. 

ISO 9001 the management system data and results. 

An organisation accredited to ISO/IEC 

requirements. 

17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 has 

demonstrated the technical 

competence to produce valid and 

accurate data and results. 

Using a UKAS accredited body to 

carry out an independent evaluation 

helps demonstrate due diligence in 

the event of legal action. 

If you are busy running a business, sourcing 

the right people and organisations to carry 

out your certification work can be time 

consuming and fraught with unknowns. 

So why leave something so important 

to chance? If you are responsible for 

your company’s certification make 

sure the certification body you select 

is accredited by the United Kingdom 

Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS is 

the only accreditation body recognised 

by government to assess certification 

bodies against internationally 

recognised standards that assure the 

certification body is fit for purpose. 

UKAS combines technical knowledge 

and expertise with commercial 

impartiality and a requirement to 

serve the public interest first. 

UKAS accreditation provides assurance 

in the market that certification bodies 

operate to recognised standards. UKAS 

certification bodies are accredited to the 

international standards ISO/IEC 17021:2004, 

ISO/IEC 17024:2003 and EN 45011:1998. 

The accreditation process provides 

consumers with the confidence that the 

quality of the service they procure is of a 

consistently high standard. 

UKAS has been formally appointed as the 

National Accreditation Body for the United 

Kingdom under the EU Regulation (No) 

765/2008. The Department for Business, 

Innovation and Skills (BIS) works with UKAS 

to ensure that it operates in the public 

interest and meets the obligations 

imposed by the Regulation. 

Do you commission a laboratory to fulfill your testing 

needs? Can you be sure that they supply you with accurate 

and reliable results? If you do, you will want to make sure 

that the organisation undertaking your testing has the 

people, facilities, technical expertise, management systems 

and track records to undertake the work professionally 

and competently. 

The competence of a laboratory you Service (UKAS) is the sole accreditation 

appoint may be crucial to maintaining body recognised by Government to 

your reputation as a responsible assess, against internationally 

organisation. It is therefore surprising recognised standards, organisations 

that organisations are still tempted that provide testing services. UKAS 

to use the service of laboratories combines a depth of technical 

whose competence has not been knowledge and expertise built up 

confirmed by an independent, over many years with scientific and 

authoritative third party. 

technical specialists operating across 

The United Kingdom Accreditation a range of testing activities. 

What are your testing needs? 

There are well over xxx UKAS accredited laboratories in the ● Technical competence of staff 

UK in a wide range of sectors such as: Chemicals, Explosives, 

● Validity and appropriateness of test methods 

Food, Forensics, Healthcare, Toys and Water. 

● Suitability and maintenance of test equipment 

UKAS laboratory accreditation uses criteria and procedures 

specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory 

● Testing environment 

accreditation uses the internationally recognised standard 

● Sampling, handling and transportation of test items 

ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability 

to produce precise, accurate tests and data including: 

● Quality assurance of test data 

For further details on UKAS accredited bodies please visit www.ukas.com 



Accreditation or Certification? Certification services Testing services 


Profile 

Clinical Pathology 


In 2009 CPA became a wholly-owned subsidiary of UKAS as part of a strategy by both companies to 

contribute to the modernisation of pathology services in the UK. 

Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) was established in 1992 and was 

co-owned by the professional bodies involved in the service delivery of 

diagnostic pathology within medical laboratories. The bodies involved 

were the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), the Institute of Biomedical 

Science (IBMS), the Association of Clinical Pathologists (ACP), 

and the Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB). These professional 

bodies continue to support the work of the organisation. 

CPA assesses medical laboratories (both 

in the public and independent health 

care sectors) and External Quality 

Assessment schemes, of which there are 

currently more than 1400 laboratories 

registered with the scheme. This 

represents about 90 percent of the total 

medical laboratory services within the 

United Kingdom. CPA has also 

accredited laboratories in Mexico, Italy, 

USA, Kuwait and Dubai. 

The main head office is now based 

within the UKAS offices in Feltham. CPA 

continues to be headed by Cheryl Blair 

as Executive Manager, supported by a 

team of 13 employed professional 

Regional Assessors plus three Regional 

Assessment Managers and an internal 

Customer Liaison Team. 

The Regional Assessors are responsible 

for ensuring a high standard of 

assessments, monitoring the overall 

quality of assessments, reporting any 

problems, contributing and supporting 

the development of CPA assessment 

and training programmes with a 

particular emphasis on quality systems. 

The Regional Assessors have continuing 

responsibility for the assessment of 

medical laboratories within a region 

and they work with Peer Assessors, as 

lead auditor, to form the assessment 

team. CPA Peer Assessors are usually 

practising Consultants/Clinical 

Scientists of equivalent status and 

Biomedical Scientists at the most senior 

level. CPA also uses retired assessors 

who have maintained statutory 

registration with a professional body. 

One of their objectives is to ensure that 

all applicants are assessed within their 

scheduled timescale. 

The Regional Assessment Managers 

Gwen Guthrie, Ken Rae and Phil 

Shread who were all previously 

employed in senior managerial positions 

in NHS medical laboratories are 

responsible for making the decision on 

the accreditation status. 

The assessment process is supported by 

the internal Customer Liaison Team led 

by Commercial Team Leader Kayleigh 

Gregory. The team is responsible for all 

organisational and administrative 

aspects of the accreditation process. 

Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, 

bodily fluids, and whole bodies (autopsies). It is the branch of medical science that studies 

the causes and nature and effects of diseases. CPA assess all disciplines of pathology 

which includes: Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Histopathology, Cytology, Microbiology, 

Virology, Immunology, Genetics and Andrology. 


Upcoming Events 

TAF Annual Conference 

UKAS will exhibit at the TAF (Trade Association Forum) Annual 

Conference on the 10 March 2011 to promote accreditation. 

TAF has 300 trade association members who represent 

500,000 companies. UKAS has continued to maintain a close 

relationship with TAF to raise awareness about accreditation. 

The Annual Conference will provide an opportunity to come 

into contact with senior TAF members from different small to 

medium sized enterprises. This year the event programme 

will include a series of conference sessions focused upon the 

UK economy, the factors that affect trade associations and 

current topics that influence their members. 

Jon Murthy, UKAS Marketing Manager will also participate in 

a panel discussion, ‘Raising Standards in your Industry’ joined 

by Shirley Bailey-Wood, Operations Director, BSI Standards 

and Laurence Waterman, Group Director, SYPOL and Head 

of Health and Safety for the Olympic Delivery Authority 

(ODA). 

MCERTS–Air and Emission Monitoring Conference 

MCERTS is a specialist event for companies who provide 

products and services for Air and Emission Monitoring. This 

event will be taking place on the 30 and 31 March 2011 at 

the International Centre in Telford and will be the sixth time 

this event will be held on Air and Emission Monitoring. 

The event is supported by the Environment Agency and the 

Source Testing Association (STA), therefore visitors can be 

confident that they will be attending an industry event on 

topics related directly to their field of work. Topics covered in 

2011 will include Ambient Monitoring, Dioxin Monitoring, 

Mcerts regulation, CEMS, Calibration, Discontinuous Monitoring, 

Gas Analysis, Data Acquisition, Manual Stack Monitoring and 

Operator Monitoring Assessment. 

UKAS in conjunction with the Environment Agency (including 

input from the STA) have completed the pilot programme to 

award ISO/IEC 17025 and MCERTS accreditation for testing 

laboratories performing QAL2 and AST work to BS EN 14181: 

2004. Rohit Chirodian, UKAS Assessment Manager will be 

delivering a conference presentation to support this topic. 


Diary dates 

The diary lists forthcoming national and international accreditation-related events of interest 

to our readers, as well as upcoming UKAS training courses. 

March 

2-3 

Training Course 

Uncertainty of 

Measurement – Testing 

jan.garman@ukas.com 

8 

EA Laboratory Management 

Group 

trevor.thompson@ukas.com 

9-10 

EA Laboratory Committee 

trevor.thompson@ukas.com 

10-13 

IAF/ILAC Executive 

Committees 

graham.talbot@ukas.com 

14-16 


Assessor Training 


17-18 


Lead Assessor Training 


21-26 

Southern African 

Development Community 

Accreditation (SADCA) 

Meetings 


23 

ISAS Preparatory Workshop 

ethna.glean@ukas.com 

23 

UKAS Policy Advisory Forum 

malcolm.hynd@ukas.com 

29-30 

EA Horizontal 

Harmonisation Committee 

lal.Ilan@ukas.com 

30-31 


Laboratory Internal Audit 


Sanctions 

Sanctions data is provided in Update on a quarterly 

basis. Full statistics from July 2008 are available on 

the UKAS website www.ukas.com 

For the period October to December 2010: 

Imposed total suspensions: 

2 organisations 

(1 laboratory, 1 inspection body) 

Imposed total withdrawals 

1 organisation (1 laboratory) 

The data does not include suspensions and 

terminations that have been imposed for 

non-payment of fees. 

April 

4-5 

EA Executive Committee 


5-6 


ISO17020:1998 Awareness 

Course 


5-8 


Combined Laboratory Course 


6-7 

EA Communications and 

Publications Committee 

jon.murthy@ukas.com 

11-15 

ILAC Marketing and 

Communications Committee/ 

IAF Communications and 

Marketing Committee 


13-14 

EA Multilateral Agreement 

Council 

brian.hough@ukas.com 

15 

EA Multilateral Agreement 

Council Working Group 

Training 

brian.hough@ukas.com 

27-28 

EA Working Group on 

Greenhouse Gas 

janet.gascoigne@ukas.com 

Consultations 

Since the last issue of Update, UKAS has responded 

to the following Government consultations; 

● Department of Health consultation on 

Liberating the NHS: An Information 

Revolution 

● Department of Health consultation on 

Transparency in Outcomes: A Framework 

for Adult Social Care 

May 

5 

EA Advisory Board 


11-13 


Laboratory Management 

Course 


12 


Preparation for 



24 

EA Executive Committee 


24-25 

EA General Assembly 

jane.beaumont@ukas.com 

25-26 


Understanding 

ISO/IEC17020:1998 for 

internal auditors and 

managers reviewing the 

Quality Management System 


Editor 

Aneet Goomer 

Tel: +44 (0)20 8917 8467 

Fax: +44 (0)20 8917 8667 

aneet.goomer@ukas.com 

Information Desk 

Tel: +44 (0)20 8917 8400 

Fax: +44 (0)20 8917 8500 

info@ukas.com 

United Kingdom Accreditation Service 

21–47 High Street, Tel: +44 (0)20 8917 8400 

Feltham, Fax: +44 (0)20 8917 8500 

Middlesex 

www.ukas.com 

TW13 4UN 

www.ukas.org 

Update is published quarterly by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). Articles in Update may be reproduced on receipt of 

permission from the Editor. Update is also published on the UKAS website at www.ukas.com 

UKAS is a non-profit-distributing company limited by guarantee. It is the sole national accreditation body recognised by the UK 

Government for the assessment (against international standards) of the technical competence of organisations offering evaluation 

services such as testing, inspection, calibration and certification. 

16 Update March 2011

Update 60 - The United Kingdom Accreditation Service

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