North Wales Microbiology Service Review Staff Briefing No4

North Wales Microbiology Service Review– Staff Briefing No4

Welcome to the fourthproject board briefing which provides information on the Microbiology Service Review which is now underway.

Project Board Update

The Project Board met on 6thJanuary 2012 to consider and agree the Review Report and associated recommendations. It is now out for final consultation within the Group. The aim is to complete that by 23rd January, to allow it to be considered by the Pathology CPG at its Board meeting on 26th January, and if approved there, to go the BCUHB Board of Directors and PHW Executives meeting.

It was agreed that any service delivery model would have to provide the following minimum service on each DGH site:

On-site Consultant Microbiologist
On-site BMS support to Sexual Health clinic
On-site specimen reception
Any other services deemed clinically important enough to be retained on site, together with the resources to provide them

The draft report recommends

The establishment of integrated management for microbiology services
That to be underpinned by a Service Delivery Plan based on ”The Future Delivery of Pathology Services in Wales” and operating within the allocated budget
The preferred Service delivery option is a consolidated service , that over time will evolve into a hub and 2 spoke model (Option 4).
The Review Group considered the location of the consolidated services; it was agreed that, taking into account capital requirements, transport and timeliness issues and staff impact, Glan Clwyd Hospital was the most suitable site.
An implementation plan supported by an implementation team, will need to be developed, setting out timescales and detailing mechanism of introducing changes in service delivery. The plan will also need to include detail on how staff and service users will be supported through the change process.
A Risk Register needs to be developed for all contingencies, including consolidation of testing

The implementation of the recommendations will need to be undertaken as a formal organisational change process and will require a co-ordinated management/staff partnership approach with full consultation of staff and significant support from Finance, Human Resources, Business and facilities management within both organisations.

Communications

Discussions have been held with clinicians at the Central Area Senior Medical and Dental Staff Committee, and are scheduled for the East SMDSC on 24th January and in the West, hopefully in March

During the week commencing 30th January, meetings will be held in each laboratory for all microbiology staff to explain the report and its recommendations, and provide an opportunity to raise questions and comments.

Intranet Site

The Review Group papers are available at

Further Queries and Questions

Staff should contact their line manager with questions and queries in the first instance.

11January 2012