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Threat of consolidation ‘not the answer’

Pathology services will become strategically more, not less, important as we move into a world of preventive medicine. Paul Lindsell, from MindMetre Research, argues against the case for consolidation and calls for increased investment.

The massed voices of sensible commentators on healthcare in the UK (and Europe) now seem to agree that systemic change is needed. With various factors inexorably driving up healthcare consumption, radical reform is needed to make our healthcare system sustainable in the 21st century. The NHS Constitution notes that we as individuals must bear some responsibility for our own, and our family’s health. This notion is now being extended to an idea of creating more healthy societies through better information, public education, diagnosis, early intervention, accurate treatment and, ultimately, prevention. 

Healthier societies require less treatment – attacking the problem of swelling healthcare demand at its root cause. Reaching this noble nirvana is, of course, a massive challenge. Nevertheless, most would agree that pathology services – which provide that all important diagnostic input – will become strategically more, not less, important as we move into a world of preventive medicine. So surely more important means more investment? Apparently not.

Lord Carter’s Pathology Report of February 20161 categorises pathology as a ‘backoffice’ function, not a strategic building block for the health service of the future. NHS Improvement issued a letter2 to all acute NHS Trusts indicating that pathology services should reach standard performance targets or face consolidation on a regional basis – with the deadline for early 2017. We can all agree that stringent demands for efficiency should continue. Nevertheless, this ‘guillotine’ approach to pathology services seems puzzling.

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Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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