Covid-19 update: GP direct-access pathology
NCL guidance is now available on the use of pathology during the Covid-19 outbreak, please refer to this for support in clinical-decision making.
Demand for direct access pathology has reduced significantly; in early April patients seemed to be happy to delay routine blood tests. GPs are also making pragmatic extensions to testing intervals in light of patient-specific factors including the previous degree of stability of results.
Right Test Right Time
It is often difficult to know which pathology test is needed and the burden of checking results is high. Dr Karen Sennett, is the clinical lead in the NCL STP Right Test Right Time group, composed of GPs, clinical scientists and consultants, which provides advice for GPs.
Electronic ordering
TQuest is to be used when ordering tests at University College London Hospitals, North Middlesex University Hospitals and Royal Free London. SunQuest is to be used when ordering tests from Whittington Health.
The North Central London CCGs agreed an ambition for 85 per cent of all GP direct-access pathology orders to be requested through tQuest/SunQuest by March 2020. Practices should remove all pathology request forms from practice folders or EMIS to avoid any confusion when ordering tests. This will ensure that the laboratories are able to improve the management of the many hundreds of pathology test request from GPs received daily and improve the reporting of pathology test results to requesting practices.
Area specific guidance for Islington
Covid-19 update: GP direct-access pathology
NCL guidance is now available on the use of pathology during the Covid-19 outbreak, please refer to this for support in clinical-decision making.
Demand for direct access pathology has reduced significantly; in early April patients seemed to be happy to delay routine blood tests. GPs are also making pragmatic extensions to testing intervals in light of patient-specific factors including the previous degree of stability of results.
Right Test Right Time
It is often difficult to know which pathology test is needed and the burden of checking results is high. Dr Karen Sennett, is the clinical lead in the NCL STP Right Test Right Time group, composed of GPs, clinical scientists and consultants, which provides advice for GPs.
Electronic ordering
To improve quality, electronic ordering, via tQuest or SunQuest, is in use for all the labs used by Islington GPs. TQuest is to be used when ordering tests at University College London Hospitals, North Middlesex University Hospitals and Royal Free London. SunQuest is to be used when ordering tests from Whittington Health.
The North Central London CCGs agreed an ambition for 85 per cent of all GP direct-access pathology orders to be requested through tQuest/SunQuest by March 2020. Practices should remove all pathology request forms from practice folders or EMIS to avoid any confusion when ordering tests. This will ensure that the laboratories are able to improve the management of the many hundreds of pathology test request from GPs received daily and improve the reporting of pathology test results to requesting practices.
