Quality Assurance

Each English Screening Programme has a defined set of standards that providers have to meet to ensure that programmes are safe and effective. Quality assurance (QA) is the process of checking that these standards are met and encouraging continuous improvement. QA therefore includes:

• Advice on the development of national quality standards
• Monitoring of standards
• Responding to incidents

Please note that as with the other cross-programme work carried out by the UK National Screening Committee, QA covers the NHS Screening Programmes in England.

Since the QA team came into post in February 2010 they have worked alongside colleagues in the relevant programmes and at national and regional level in the development of:

• education and training initiatives
• programme specific KPIs and their collation/analysis
• serious incidents guidance and ensuring lessons are learnt
• programme specific failsafe points mapped to Map of Medicine care pathways
• service specifications for 2013-14 (available from the Department of Health website)

Regional Quality Assurance (QA) Teams were established on 1 April 2013 to oversee all NHS Screening Programmes (Antenatal, Newborn and Adult). During 2013/14 these teams will take up new responsibilities.

Content of the quality assurance pages of the UK Screening Portal is currently in the process of being updated. Historical content has been retained for reference purposes during the updating process.