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' and supported at public consultation. The network will be known as Antenatal Screening Wales.

Velindre NHS Trust has been asked to establish and host Antenatal Screening Wales within its Screening Services.  Antenatal Screening Wales has been asked to undertake a number of activities in the first two years.  These include establishing policies, standards and protocols for antenatal screening in Wales and developing mechanisms with Trusts to implement a self reported audit of activity.

Velindre NHS Trust has not been given funding for existing or additional antenatal screening tests or genetic services, and the financial and legal responsibility for antenatal screening services will remain with the relevant Trusts at least until March 2005.

The implementation of Antenatal Screening Wales will provide a sustainable all Wales framework to improve the standard of antenatal screening offered to women.  It will be the first step in developing an effective, appropriate, uniform, quality antenatal screening programme for Wales which includes all Wales policies and standards and service monitoring, audit and reporting.