Sponsored by
Review backs transfer of lab services with safeguards
Wednesday 12noon THE IRP, the independent expert on NHS service change, publishes its report on contested proposals concerning the microbiology laboratory at Lincoln County Hospital.
The IRP concluded that the strategic direction being taken by Path Links and the local NHS in developing a network of pathology laboratories across Lincolnshire will deliver sustainable services for the future. However, the IRP also makes a number of recommendations, which must be adhered to, to ensure that people across Lincolnshire continue to receive consistent, high quality services.
The IRP supports the assimilation of the Lincoln microbiology laboratory into the microbiology laboratory at Scunthorpe Hospital, but considers it essential that the Lincoln consultant microbiologists and control of infection team remain at Lincoln County Hospital. The IRP also recommends that members of staff remaining on the Lincoln site should move to more central accommodation as soon as possible, as the current building is unsuitable and isolated.
Gina Tiller, lead panel member for the IRP's review, said: "The main focus of our review was the quality of patient care. We considered a number of issues, such as transport of specimens, turnaround times and urgent tests and agreed unanimously that consolidating the Lincoln microbiology laboratory into the laboratory at Scunthorpe will not compromise services for local people.
"Patients' access to the microbiology service will be unchanged, as they will still be able to provide samples in the same locations as before. Furthermore, we consider that these changes provide an opportunity for significant improvements in service quality, including the potential to improve turnaround times, the development of staff expertise, extended laboratory working hours and the efficient use of specialist equipment."
During the course of the review, the IRP heard a number of concerns about operating standards, in particular the consistent measurement of turnaround times and issues around specimen tracking. To ensure any operational problems are promptly identified and resolved, and that the planned improvements in turnaround times are delivered, the IRP recommends that a single performance and incident reporting system is introduced.
It is imperative that all parties are clear about operating standards and the reasons for them, and that performance monitoring is not open to misinterpretation. Both Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee (HSC) should endorse the new system.
Path Links has been leading the way in implementing managed networks in pathology in Lincolnshire, and the county is at the forefront of national progress. The Department of Health should therefore be kept informed of the performance of the new arrangements by East Midlands Strategic Health Authority so that experience can be shared more widely and be available to other parts of the country to help them develop their own pathology network solutions.
Lincolnshire's Health Scrutiny Committee today considered the independent report into the move of Lincoln's microbiology lab to Scunthorpe, and have decided that further discussions about its findings will take place at their next meeting.
The report by the IRP (Independent Reconfiguration Panel) was released yesterday and the Committee will discuss the full 62-page report in depth including the recommendations, on Wednesday 29 July.
Councillor Mrs Christine Talbot, who was today elected as Chairman of the Committee, said:
"The Committee fully accept the recommendations of the IRP, and we expect the health authorities in Lincolnshire to follow them. We will be monitoring the recommendations closely and will also be asking for regular progress reports."
"As the report is very detailed, further consideration and discussions are needed, and the Committee will now look at a number of issues it raises, such as the recommendation for a single performance and incident reporting system, and how consultation takes place with staff.
"In relation to recommendation 6, the Committee look forward to building further the open, constructive relationships which are developing with all NHS organisations, that will bring benefits to the people of Lincolnshire whom we serve."
The full report is available on the IRP website: www.irpanel.org.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Rasen
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
