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 Velindre NHS Trust Screening Services. ASW were asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to establish policies, standards and a performance management framework for antenatal screening.
All Trusts in Wales now have the same policies, standards and protocols, on the antenatal screening tests which are offered. These were originally published by ASW in 2005 and are being reviewed at present. Antenatal screening services have improved for pregnant women. ASW has developed, printed and provided to Trusts written information for women on antenatal screening tests.
ASW developed a performance management framework in 2004, and this balanced score card has enabled an integrated performance management approach to the ASW standards and protocols. The reporting is bi-annual. The reporting process has been accepted by Trusts and seen as a relatively simple tool.
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 and supplied to Trusts.
The antenatal screening programme in Wales is supported by an annual training needs analysis, which is structured and coordinated by ASW, and by educational material developed by ASW to support in-service education provided by the Trust antenatal screening coordinators and others.
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
Diane Brook, 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
