Agenda item

The report informs the Committee of the review of pathology services across Kent and Medway.

Discussion

The report set out the proposal to establish a single Pathology service in Kent and Medway as part of the National Pathology Network Strategy. The Strategy described configurations of networks of pathology providers and challenged them to say how stable pathology services could be created. A decision had been taken to create a service for Kent and Medway rather than investigating establishment of a shared service with south London.

It was recognised that pathology had an aging workforce and that there was a need to invest in technology. Delivering an effective service rather than financial savings was the key driver for the establishment of a new service. Regular engagement was being undertaken with staff to keep them informed as the proposals were developed. It was acknowledged that there was a need to create a more secure and sustainable workforce. It was considered that it was most likely that a hub and spoke model would be developed but no preferred option had yet been identified. An outline business case had been developed with a full business case due to be developed in December 2018. Expertise from NHS England and the Royal College of Nursing was being utilised to support development of the proposals.

Progress had already been made in relation to send away blood testing services. It had been identified that trusts across Kent and Medway were paying different prices for this service. These contracts had been renegotiated so that all trusts would pay the same.

A Committee Member highlighted recent problems experienced by the existing shared Medway and North Kent Pathology service, which had included blood tests going missing and delays in results being provided. The Member questioned what the impact of a centralised service would be on blood tests where results were required urgently. It was also suggested that there needed to be communication with the public about the issues encountered and the rationale for change.

The Chief Executive of Medway Foundation Trust said that the North Kent Pathology Service had experienced problems. This was a joint venture between Medway and Dartford designed to merge their pathology services. It was acknowledged that some of the difficulties the service had experienced should have been foreseen with it having been predominantly Medway patients affected by the difficulties. The merger had involved chemical pathology moving from Medway to Dartford in June 2018. Four serious issues had been identified. Affected patients had been telephoned and written to with affected tests having been redone. No patient harm had yet been identified. Some of the problems had been caused by IT systems not being able to communicate with each other. Work was being undertaken with NHS England and NHS Improvement in relation to development of an action plan. It was likely that the Programme Board would ask for an independent review to be undertaken to investigate the problems.

It was confirmed that any centralisation of pathology services would require acute testing to be retained at each hospital site. This would be the case for tests where results were needed in under two hours.

Decision

The Committee noted and commented on the review of pathology services across Kent and Medway.