Pathology programme: update 3 July 2019

Background
Together with pathology colleagues at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust; East and North Hertfordshire CCG; Hertfordshire Valleys CCG; The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust we are part of a national programme to develop networked pathology services initiated by NHS Improvement.

The programme requires us to consider the options for the development of a shared pathology service to support local hospitals, community services and GPs and the patients that we care for.

Please find below a message from Lance McCarthy, Chief Executive of Princess Alexandra Hospital

Dear colleagues

I am pleased to share with you the latest pathology programme updates:

Progress

As you are aware, the supplier questionnaire to provide a pathology service was issued on 30 May. The bidders have until 18 July to return completed forms, which will be used to shortlist bidders.

We currently have interest from a number of credible NHS and private sector organisations.

Workstreams

The workstreams are:

• Clinical and Operations
• IM&T
• Finance and Commercial
• Workforce
• Procurement

Each workstream is progressing to plan, compiling and collating the information we will need to provide to bidders. The target date for completion of this work is 23 July. The information will then be verified and approved by the Programme Board before being issued to the bidders. Members of the Programme Board include executives from all six organisations involved (see background information at the top of this page) supported by a range clinicians, laboratory staff and commercial teams.

We now have clinicians from all three Trusts and GP representatives from the CCGs taking an active part in the clinical and operational workstream.

The Draft Statement of Requirement is progressing to plan and should be approved in time to issue to short-listed bidders in August. The statement provides information and details about the service level and standards required by the organisations (trusts and CCGs).

Media interest

A reminder that if you are contacted or approached by the media please take their details and let the communications team know by emailing westessexccg.comms@nhs.net  Please do not offer comment to the media as it is important that all information shared with the media is co-ordinated and current.

We will continue to keep you updated.

Thank you.

Lance McCarthy