The future of pathology services

"The report also looks at the changes digital and genomic technology is bringing in pathology, and what they mean for services, and how we can get the most benefit out of them."

The future of pathology services
S Karakusevic, N Edwards, R Lewis, M Dayan
Nuffield Trust
June 2016

Read more here.

Reducing turnaround time of surgical pathology reports in pathology and laboratory medicine departments

"This project improvement idea of mapping out the workflow process has led to process and systems improvement. Focusing on fixing subprocesses within the sample flow process had led to more than 94% of all routine surgical pathology cases being reported within less than two days and meeting the CAP standards."

Reducing turnaround time of surgical pathology reports in pathology and laboratory medicine departments
Saeed Alshieban, Khaled Al-Surimi
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u209223.w3773

Read more here.

Challenges and improvements in diagnostic services across seven days

"Across the country, hospitals and primary and community care organisations are working together to look at ways of delivering safe and effective care over seven days a week ... This new publication summarises service improvement achievements and potential challenges." 

Challenges and improvements in diagnostic services across seven days 
NHS Improving Quality
March 2014

Read more here.

Digital First: Clinical Transformation through Pathology Innovation

"Using pathology services differently must be based on improving quality of care as well as increasing efficency. Pathology underpins the majority of clinical interactions and clinical value chains can only be unlocked if pathology services are coordinated in concert with clinical services. The gains from digitisation described in this report accrue when pathways are joined up across care settings and clinical networks. Quality is a major part of the equation in achieving value."

Digital First: Clinical Transformation through Pathology Innovation
National Pathology Programme, NHS England
February 2014

Read more here.

Top tips to overcome the challenge of commissioning diagnostic services

"This short guide presents top tips for commissioners to meet the most common challenges in the delivery of diagnostic services."

Top tips to overcome the challenge of commissioning diagnostic services
I Barnes, E Denton, S Hill, R Valori
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
March 2013

Read more here.

Service improvement in blood sciences

"The vision for the NHS pathology services puts patients first by providing services which are:

• clinically excellent;
• responsive to users;
• cost effective; and
• integrated."

Service improvement in blood sciences: how to improve quality, delivery and efficiency for laboratory providers and their customers
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
January 2013

Read more here.

Service improvement in microbiology

"Working in partnership with the Department of Health (DH) Pathology Programme, NHS Improvement has supported a number of microbiology teams, including the eight acute Trusts in the former East Midlands SHA, to learn how Lean methodology can enable the service to achieve improvements to support the QIPP, (quality, innovation, productivity and prevention) transformation programme."

Service improvement in microbiology
National Pathology Programme
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
July 2012

Read more here.

Pathology services commissioning toolkit

"This toolkit is for commissioning community (i.e. direct access) pathology services to support commissioners who have undertaken a strategic review of their existing services and wish to improve the quality, effectiveness, affordability and value for money of these services, in line with locally determined objectives and priorities."

The pathology services commissioning toolkit
Department of Health
May 2012

Read more here.

Additional supporting material available here.