§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what factors led to the commissioning of the 1995 report Review of Pathology Services at Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust; [17796]
(2) what steps were taken to bring the findings of the 1995 report Review of Pathology Services at Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust to (a) public notice and (b) the notice of clinicians who procured the services referred to in the report. [17797]
734W
§ Mr. BoatengWe understand from the Kent and Canterbury Hospitals National Health Service Trust that the report was commissioned by the Chief Executive to enable the trust to develop a formal strategy in relation to Pathology services. The overall aim and objectives of the report was to ensure that any future development achieved the following standards:
- A service which is clinically effective, producing work of a high quality that is subject to regular, rigorous and transparent audit.
- A service that is efficient and cost effective.
- A service that is progressive, and focused on future requirements rather than past attainments.
- A service that is properly trained and fully equipped.
- A service that is responsive to the needs of its customers, notably referring consultants and other hospital doctors, general practitioners and patients.
- A service that has a flexible outlook in work practice and is multi-skilled.
- A service which is staffed at appropriate levels.
- A service that is integrated, both internally and with other departments throughout the trust, with all aspects of teaching, training, research and development.
It was an internal document and was circulated to all Clinical Directors for dissemination in each Clinical Directorate and was also circulated to all Consultant and Senior Scientific staff within the Pathology Directorate. However, the October 1997 report of the Review of Cervical Screening Services at Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust noted that
the 1995 MPA Consultants Report, as part of the three East Kent Trusts' Pathology Review, raised a number of concerns about the cytology department and recommended its integration with the William Harvey Hospital site and relocation there. This report does not seem to have been widely discussed within the trust and in any case was not supported by the chief executives group.The 1997 report recommended that
the trust board should review the current arrangements for the overall management of pathology services still under its control and ensure there are clear roles, responsibilities and reporting lines for all staff involved in the running of the laboratories.The South Thames Regional Office is asking the trust and health authority to follow through on this recommendation in light of the wider recommendations made in that report.