The need for improvements in antenatal screening and recommendations for the management of antenatal screening were consulted on by the Antenatal Screening Project in 2001 in its report 'Choices' - Recommendations for the Provision and Management of Antenatal Screening in 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 has developed, printed and provided to Trusts written information for women on antenatal screening tests. The information is also available on the ASW web site.
ASW has been asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to establish policies, standards and a performance management framework for antenatal screening. It is intended that the implementation of the standards and protocols will support demonstrable improvements in the quality of antenatal screening offered to women. The implementation of the standards will be monitored by the ASW all Wales Performance Management Framework and Balanced Scorecard.
The liability for antenatal screening provision continues to rest with the provider Trust/Powys LHB. Similarly the responsibility for implementing antenatal screening protocols to meet the proposed standards rests with NHS Trusts/ Powys LHB.
There are a number of important United Kingdom (UK) documents which support antenatal screening and the work of the UK National Screening committee (NSC) is ongoing. These minimum standards have been drawn from the many recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), NSC, specific laboratory national standards, the advice of Royal Colleges and good practice models. These standards should be implemented with due regard to the recommendations contained in supporting literature e.g. guidance of Professional Bodies, Royal Colleges and Welsh Risk Pool Standards.
A review of antenatal screening services by questionnaire and site visits was undertaken in October to December 2004. Information gained from this comprehensive review combined with advice from the three Local Multiprofessional Management Groups (LMMG) and a public consultation ('Making Decisions') have been used to set minimum service standards.
(Published 01 December 2005) |
