§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what systems are in place to ensure that the former Public Health Laboratory Service microbiology laboratories(a) maintain their standards of practice under NHS trusts and (b) continue to report national data statistics to central Government; [130077]
(2) what safeguards are in place to ensure that food-borne disease is given high priority by the Health Protection Agency when commissioning services from microbiology laboratories; [130078]
(3) what service level agreements are in place for microbiology laboratories. [130079]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Health Protection Agency is in the final stages of putting in place a detailed service level agreement (SLA) with those national health service trusts from which it is commissioning public health services from NHS microbiology laboratories. Reporting of results, submission of samples and food-related public health work are all specified in detail within the SLA, which provides a clear exposition of the range and level of service required.
To improve clinical governance, raise quality standards and improve openness and transparency for patients, the Department recently decided that all NHS pathology laboratories in England should enrol with an appropriate accreditation scheme. Further information will be contained in the Department's document on modernising pathology services, which will be published later this year.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what supporting inspection arrangements are in place for microbiology laboratories. [130080]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department expects to appoint a new inspector of microbiology shortly, with the key aim of ensuring high quality public health and clinical microbiology. His/her functions will include
1322Wensuring that all microbiology laboratories providing services to the national health service meet their responsibilities for public health surveillance;promoting standards and ensuring quality in the operation of microbiology services;identifying significant gaps in specialist and reference microbiological testing that are relevant to public health surveillance;achieving adherence to standard operating procedures in diagnostic microbiology.To improve clinical governance, raise quality standards and improve openness and transparency for patients, the Department recently decided that all NHS pathology laboratories in England should enrol with an appropriate accreditation scheme. Further information will be contained in the Department's document on modernising pathology services, which will be published in the autumn.