§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make it her policy to maintain the symbiosis of research and service provision in the detection of inherited metabolic disease;
(2) if she will make it her policy to establish mandatory quality assessment schemes to ensure adequate standards of service for the detection of inherited metabolic disease;
(3) what representations she has received from the British Inherited Disease Group concerning the SAS system; and if she will make a statement on the operation of the SAS system and its relevance to regional services for the detection of inherited metabolic disease.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe have received no such representations. The supra regional assay service (SAS) contracts with purchasing authorities to provide rare or infrequently requested laboratory tests. It is for purchasing authorities to ensure that they specify in contracts, and monitor, the quality elements which they require.
The national health service management executive is currently reviewing issues arising from contracting for specialised services, including genetic services.