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Transforming pathology

Vision
To develop a new model for high quality pathology services in the East Midlands to offer benefits to patients and increased value for money.

Background                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Pathology currently delivers a range of high quality services but there is scope for further efficiencies. The Carter Review of NHS pathology services made the case for consolidating pathology to improve quality, patient safety and efficiency.  The Department of Health has identified it as a key area for improving efficiency and expects that by consolidating pathology services annual savings of up to £500m can be delivered nationally. 

NHS organisations and pathology professionals across the region are working together to implement more streamlined  processes which will lead to quicker test results and diagnoses for patients and a better use of resources. You can read about some of the work already taking place in the case studies below.

More than 80 delegates came together to discuss how to improve the provision of   pathology services in the East Midlands. The one-day event on December 8 was aimed at pathologists, pathology manager, commissioners and other key stakeholders who were keen to contribute to the development of the best performing pathology services for the region.

Attendees heard from Dr Ian Barnes, National Clinical Director for Pathology Clinical Quality and Strategy, who provided the national perspective from the Department of Health. There were presentations from Malcolm Lowe-Lauri, chief executive of University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust and Dr Stephen Clay, a GP and primary care advisor for NHS East Midlands. Two exemplar sites from outside the region were also showcased –Kent & Medway Pathology Network and the North East Pathology Network.

As well as the presentation there were a number of discussion and work-group sessions in which delegates explored key strategic questions relating to QIPP in pathology were explored.

The event is part of a two stage process, the second phase of which will be run early in the New Year, which will help to determine the optimum design of pathology in the East Midlands.

The pathfinder phase 2 workshop in February 2011 was attended by small teams of clinicians, pathology managers and senior Board level executives for each acute trust in the East Midlands plus a small group of specialist advisors. Trusts were given the opportunity to present their future plans and then discuss and develop their proposals with the panel and each other. The agenda for the day, which includes background information, is available below.

Trust Pathology Departments in the East Midlands are working with NHS Improvement to implement Lean. The programme was launched in March 2011 and, with the help of the service improvement and re-design expertise of the NHS Improvement team, will enable organisations to implement Lean-based efficiencies across the three key disciplines of Histopathology, Microbiology and Blood Sciences.

The agenda for the launch workshop held on 4th March 2011 is below, along with a presentation showing additional details of the planned work.

looking under the microscope image

Much of the regional work to transform pathology services is based on the national Carter Review published in 2006. You can read the full report and the Department of Health's follow-up document published in 2008 below.

More information is available through the Department of Health's website.

You can also find useful information on the NHS Improvement website.