During 2010/11 the London Pathology Modernisation Programme has been developing the clinical and service case for change for pathology services in London in response to the national pathology programme.

Recommendations

The Modernising Pathology Programme Board, chaired by Fiona Wise, Chief Executive of North West London Hospitals was supported by a clinical expert panel, chaired by Professor Adrian Newland, a Consultant Haematologist and Director of Pathology at Barts and the London NHS Trust.

The main recommendations of the programme are that pathology services in London should in future be organised in a networked model, as recommended by the national Carter review. It is also recommended that London-wide clinical and service standards should be set for pathology to improve access to pathology tests for GP and hospitals.

Implementation of these recommendations will lead to consistently high clinical standards and faster response times for pathology tests across London, as well as ensuring value for money.

Implementation programme

In June 2011, the NHS London Delivery Group agreed to take forward a London-wide programme to implement the report's recommendations. This will be led locally by London's commissioning clusters. The London pathology programme team will agree the process and timescales for option appraisal and decision making with each cluster area by Autumn 2011.

Rob Larkman, Chief Executive of NHS Brent and Harrow, has taken over from Fiona Wise as the Senior Responsible Officer for the implementation phase of the London Pathology Modernisation Programme.

The programme steering group will report to the London Productivity and Commercial Board and the Delivery Group will maintain oversight.

Members of the programme team can be contacted by email on pathology@london.nhs.uk .