UK Health Minister
Lord Warner
has today (9th September 2005) launched an independent review of
UK National Health Service (NHS) pathology services to identify the
scope for further modernisation and
improvement. This will be chaired by Lord Carter of Coles.
As part of
a wide-ranging review, he will be investigating the use of technology,
bringing services closer
to patients and the involvement of the independent sector to improve
patient:
- Access - Around 98% of all routine blood tests are already turned-around
within 24 hours - the review will look at the options for bringing
more testing closer to the patient (eg in GP surgeries) to reduce times
still
further.
- Convenience - More convenient settings for tests – high street
testing is already available for a number of diagnostic tests (e.g.
diabetes and cardiovascular disease) the review will investigate if
this can be
extended to other tests.
- Choice - Patients can already be tested and receive results in a
variety of settings (GP, pharmacies, hospitals wards and A&E) and the review
will look at extending these choices further.
Lord Warner said:
“Almost all NHS patients require diagnostic tests, so this
modernisation to provide efficient pathology services that are convenient
for NHS patients,
and wanted by them, is vital. Waiting for diagnosis can be a worrying
time and we are determined to provide easier access to tests and the
results as quickly as is possible.
_ The independent
review panel is key to this modernisation, to look at the scope for further
developing and improving pathology services
so that it can deliver a fast, convenient service for the 21st century,
focused on patients’ needs.
_ Speeding
up diagnosis is critical to hitting our 18 week target for treatment.
A tremendous amount of work has been done in the 18 months
since the launch of Modernising Pathology Services but it is essential
that we accelerate this progress to make the most of this essential service.”
Lord Carter of Coles, Chair of the independent review panel, explained
his aims for the review:
“I am delighted to have been appointed to this important role.
I look forward to working with the other members of the panel and all
stakeholders to explore where the service could benefit from reconfiguration
and identify innovative and practical suggestions about how further improvements
could be made.”
Dr Ian Barnes, National Clinical Lead for Pathology said:
"This is an exciting and challenging time for pathology services.
We are already making good progress with the modernisation programme
and the review will stimulate new approaches to how Government, the pathology
community and the private sector can work together to develop further
a quality and responsive service that improves patient care and experience."
The National Histopathology Schools Network was also launched today.
The schools have already increased recruitment to this speciality from
around 60 places in 2001 to 108 with today’s addition of the final
wave of schools Wycombe/Oxford; South West; Mersey; Manchester; London
(North & South) to create a national network.
The Network now provides
one single national curriculum, teaching resources and rigorous assessment
procedures to ensure high quality histopathology training which is setting
standards for the professionalisation of post graduate medical training.
Lord Warner said:
“The National Histopathology Schools Network has dramatically
increased the number of doctors training in this speciality and improved
the quality of this training. This rejuvenation of histopathology training
is crucial to continuing the improvement and modernisation of pathology
services.
Mike Richards, National Director for Cancer said:
“High quality histopathology is critical to good cancer care.
We know we have had inadequate numbers of histopathologists in the past,
the National Histopathology Schools Network is making a real difference
to cancer care and will ensure we have the right workforce for the future.”
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was first released by UK Department of Health on 9th
September 2005. For further information, please visit their
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