Pathology Improvement
Our role
The role of the pathology improvement team is to:
- provide service improvement and redesign expertise, including Lean and Six Sigma methodology
- provide clinical and managerial expertise in radiology and pathology
- support the delivery of timely access, high quality and effective patient centered diagnostic services
- support the delivery of NHS guidelines and DH policy.
Our strategy
NHS Improvement - pathology is aligned to the Department of Health (DH) diagnostic strategy and the DH pathology modernisation programme which is lead by Deirdre Feehan - DH Policy Lead and Dr Ian Barnes - National Clinical Lead for Pathology.
The Carter Review
The second review of pathology services in England by Lord Carter was published in December 2008 (the first review was published in August 2006). The review focuses on three main themes:
- improving quality and patient safety
- mproving efficiency
- identifying mechanisms for change.
A three year programme of improvement is planned to support the Carter Review. NHS Improvement - pathology has already supported a number of sites to test Lean/Six Sigma methodology in histopathology, blood services, microbiology, specimen reception and phlebotomy demonstrating the impact of improvement this methodology delivers.
Early achievements have shown:
- 43% - 90% reduced end to end turnaround times
- 21% reduction in inappropriate demand
- cost savings of up to £125,000 pa recovered from within the system
- 50% improved turnaround times for MRSA testing;
- 20% reductions in inappropriate demand and additional cost savings
- avoidance of unnecessary admissions.
Contact
If you wish to contact NHS Improvement - Pathology, please email Anabela.Gouveia@improvement.nhs.uk