new.gif){kind=small}
RD&E cervical screening services are exemplary
The RD&E cervical screening programme for North & East Devon has been applauded as exemplary.
In a report following a quality assurance visit in June 2010, the cervical screening service provided by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust has been described as excellent at all levels. It commended the team saying: “All individuals in key roles are knowledgeable, efficient and have time for the role with good accountability arrangements.” The report added: “The Trust at Board level is well aware of cervical screening issues and the staff are well supported.”
Cervical screening services provided at the RD&E include cytology, histology, colposcopy and hospital-based programme co-ordination.
RD&E Gynaecological Oncology Consultant and cervical screening programme co-ordinator Mr Nigel Acheson, (pictured) said: “The conclusion that the cervical screening services we provide women are exemplary is testimony to the commitment and expertise of all those colleagues involved across a range of professional disciplines at the RD&E. We have first class leadership in all of the disciplines involved – Mr Mike Hannemann, Lead Colposcopist, Dr Nichola Cope, Lead Pathologist and Carina Hume, Lead Biochemical Scientist. We are delighted with this recognition and want to build on this and improve our services further.”
Highlights of the report include praise and as examples of good practice included:
- The commitment, understanding and working relationships of programme co-ordinator Mr Acheson
- Excellent working relationships at all levels within the service and with GPs, the colposcopists and between Exeter and the histopathology team in Barnstaple
- The histology & cytology laboratory staff are highly motivated & committed with a good team ethos to manage over 32,000 cervical samples annually from Exeter & North Devon and about 4,760 samples screened for other laboratories outside Exeter and Devon with robust paperwork and mechanisms in place for this workload
- The leadership of Lead biomedical scientist Carina Hume who closely monitors the workload.
- Reporting times have consistently been maintained within national standards during the past three years with 99.9% of samples being reporting within seven days (during first quarter of 2010) which is commendable
- An excellent training programme for the laboratory staff & effective processes in place for monitoring performance of individual screeners and laboratory reporting
The South West Regional Quality Assurance Reference Centre visited the RD&E on 28-30 June 2010.
Jan - Jun 2012