Regional Review of Clinical Pathology Laboratory Services
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The last review of pathology services was undertaken in 1983, and since
then the demand for and pattern of service provision has changed considerably. On 10 April 2003, the
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Henrietta Campbell announced the Department’s intention to undertake a review
of clinical pathology laboratory services. She outlined the terms of reference for the review as follows:
“This proposed review aims to provide the Department with a strategic
plan for strengthening and developing effective, high quality, clinical pathology laboratory services,
responsive to the needs of the patients and users. This will take account of the work in progress both
locally and nationally, including North/South dimensions, and will address the recommendations of the
Public Accounts Committee Report on Laboratory Pathology Services.
The review will also address:-
- The requirements of primary and community care, local hospitals, and acute hospitals in the context of “Developing Better Services”.
- The need for cost-effective pathology services.
- Developments in clinical services and the impact on laboratory pathology services.
- New and emerging technologies.
- Staffing implications.
- Quality issues, including professional qualifications and attaining/retaining accreditation.
- The requirements of clinical governance within the HPSS, and
- Capital resource requirements, to include buildings, equipment and IT.
- Teaching and training.
- Research and development.
- Management and governance arrangements.”
KEY TASKS
In order to ensure that the review addresses the terms of reference
as presented by the Chief Medical Officer the project will be required:
1. To provide an overview of the current arrangements and current
problems for clinical pathology - laboratory services in Northern Ireland, in particular:
- the current arrangements for the provision and management of services;
- the location and user base of current laboratories;
- staffing arrangements (including training, skill mix, vacancies and Working Time Directive compliance);
- the arrangements for ensuring quality of service delivery (including CPA, clinical Benchmarking and controls assurance).
2.
To document trends and anticipate future demand for clinical pathology - laboratory services in
Northern Ireland.
3. To assess the overall provision, effectiveness, efficiency
and economy of services, taking account of appropriate benchmarking information and other relevant measures.
4. To identify developments/drivers for change that are likely
to impact on pathology services in the future, including technical, clinical and ICT developments and
the impact of relevant EU Directives, for example, in-vitro diagnostic devices.
5. To identify human resource issues that will have an impact
on services, including changing work patterns, training and career progression, the European Working
Time Directive and skill mix issues.
6. To provide a model for the future provision of clinical pathology
- laboratory services, taking account of:
- the future configuration of hospitals as outlined in DBS and the Ministerial announcement February 2003;
- the focus on collaborative working arrangements and network development;
- the potential for greater collaboration in the provision of laboratory services within the HPSS;
- the potential involvement of the private sector;
- the development of linkages with the Republic of Ireland;
- the availability of resources; and
- the need to provide timely access to results.
7.
To make recommendations to the Departmental Board and the Minister on the future provision of
clinical pathology - laboratory services in Northern Ireland, to include resource plans, an assessment
of equality implications and a detailed action plan.
