Antenatal Screening Wales
In April 2003 the Minister for Health and Social Services agreed that a Managed Clinical Network for antenatal screening should be established in Wales, based on the principles described in the Antenatal Screening Project Report “Choices”. The network is known as Antenatal Screening Wales (ASW) and is hosted by Public Health Wales. ASW was asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to establish policies, standards and a performance management framework for antenatal screening.
Following the work of ASW and publication of the initial standards and protocols in 2005, all Health Board in Wales have adopted the same policies, standards and protocols for antenatal screening and antenatal screening services have improved for pregnant women.
ASW has developed, printed and provided to Health Boards written information for women on antenatal screening tests in a number of languages.
ASW developed a performance management framework in 2004 using a balanced score card approach based on the standards. The reporting of the score card is bi-annual and although it is a simple tool it provides Health Boards with performance information and identifies areas which need management support.
Standards and protocols were developed and published in April 2008 to support amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). These are invasive tests which may be required if a problem is identified by antenatal screening and the woman accepts diagnostic testing. A structured record keeping form for antenatal invasive testing and structured consent form for amniocentesis has also been developed to support best practice.
The antenatal screening programme in Wales is supported by an annual training needs analysis, which is structured and coordinated by ASW.
The organisation of in-service education is the responsibility of the antenatal screening coordinator employed by the Health Boards. ASW has developed educational materials to support the screening coordinators to provide training.
ASW Management
Membership of the All Wales Multi Professional Management Group
Rose Fox Deputy Director, Screening Services
Rosemary Johnson, ASW All Wales Programme Coordinator
Steve Jenkins Business Manager, Screening Services
Ann-marie Donaghy, ASW Programme Support Manager
Llywela Wilson, ASW Regional Coordinator – South East
Sue Thomas, ASW Regional Coordinator – North Wales
Maria Chapman, ASW Regional Coordinator – South West
Phil Walters, Head of Information, Screening Services
Andrew Dawson, Consultant obstetrician with a special interest in antenatal screening
Colin Davies, Consultant radiologist with a special interest in obstetric ultrasound
Rachel Jones, Consultant Virologist
Carole Evans, Biochemist with special interest in Down syndrome screening
Annie Procter, Consultant Geneticist
Dr Vinod Devalia, Consultant Haematologist
