Update on changes to LabMed's governing documents

Over the past year, a working group appointed by Council has reviewed LabMed’s governance documents to ensure they are up-to-date, easier to understand and able to support the future needs of the organisation.

What has changed?

  1. A single, modernised Articles of Association We brought together our previous Articles of Association, Memorandum of Association and the General Meetings section of Table A Regulations into one updated Articles of Association.
    • All key governance provisions and member rights are now in one place.
    • As before, any future changes to the Articles will require member approval.
    • Outdated language, duplication and inconsistencies have been removed.
  2. Clear separation between Articles and Bye-laws Some matters previously in the Bye-laws, such as voting rights and election processes, are now properly captured in the Articles and we have created one streamlined Bye-law document to set out procedural rules. These can be updated by Council when needed, without requiring a member vote, allowing greater flexibility.
  3. Reflecting the change in trade union identity Members voted at the AGM in June 2025 to stop using “Federation of Clinical Scientists” as the identity for our trade union activity.
    • The Articles now place trade union activity clearly within the core purpose of LabMed.
    • The National Committee of the trade union is now formally recognised as a standing committee of Council.
    • All legacy trade union-only members continue to have full voting rights within the Association.
  4. Combining previous Association and Federation rules We previously had separate rules for the Association for Laboratory Medicine and the Federation of Clinical Scientists. These are now combined into a single, simpler rules framework.
  5. Clarifying organisational purpose We modernised and simplified the Association’s objects to describe our role more clearly and provide future flexibility. This now explicitly includes trade union activity to support members’ professional interests and working conditions, including representation and advocacy.
  6. Strengthened governance structures We formalised key governance arrangements, including:
    • The role of the Nominations Committee, moving to an open application process for director appointments.
    • New terms of reference for Council and all standing committees (Executive, Finance and Risk, Nominations and Remuneration).
    • A new Scheme of Delegation clarifying responsibilities and decision-making authority across the organisation.


Why we made these changes

These updates ensure our governance remains transparent, modern and fit for purpose – making it easier for members to understand how LabMed operates, strengthening democratic accountability and giving us the flexibility and clarity needed to continue supporting the profession and workforce effectively.