Technical EQA
A 2-year programme has been produced with the aim to develop a robust framework for the system wide governance and oversight of external quality assurance (EQA) to ensure high standards in quality management, embed patient safety into pathology, ensure excellence in pathology output and support safe, high-quality patient care across the health service. In addition, the programme aims to produce a sustainable funding mechanism from financial contributions from the relevant EQA scheme providers, based on openness, transparency and fairness.
We will achieve this by concentrating on 4 objectives, which comprise the delivery plan.
- Developing and implementing a robust multi-stakeholder governance and assurance framework incorporating new developments in systems governance, pathology service provision and EQA.
- Agreeing and implementing a consistent approach to identifying and responding to poor performance.
- Developing systems, practices and policies to share learning relating to quality management, continuous quality improvement and assurance of pathology results with service providers, manufacturers, professional societies and oversight bodies.
- Strengthening collaboration with our external/regulatory partners across health services in the UK.
EQA Oversight Board
The EQA Oversight Board provides a collective oversight and assurance to the work identified and scrutinised by the EQA Stakeholders Forum and coordinates the delivery of the agreed objectives. A major area of work overseen by the EQA Oversight Board is the delivery plan, which defines the workstreams that will operationalise the agreed objectives. The EQA Oversight Board meets 3–4 times a year.
EQA documents
EQA Stakeholders Forum
The EQA Stakeholders Forum is a multi-stakeholder group and provides scrutiny to ensure that the work and priorities have users’ interests and perspectives at the centre. It has representation from the following members:
- Chair – VACANT
- Vice Chair – Professor Peter Johnston
- UKNEQAS Representative – Dr Barbara de la Salle
- UKNEQAS Representative – Mr Liam Whitby
- UKNEQAS Chemical Pathology Representative – Dr Finlay MacKenzie
- ACB Representative – Dr Shonagh Haslam
- GenQA Representative – Dr Ros Hastings
- WEQAS Representative – Dr Annette Thomas
- UKAS Representative – Mr Martin Stearn
- LGCG Representative – Ms Karen Morgan
- QCMD Representative – Ms Elain McCulloch
- NQAAP Chemical Pathology Chair – VACANT
- NQAAP Cellular Pathology Chair – Dr Paul Barrett
- NQAAP Genetics Chair – VACANT
- NQAAP Medical Microbiology Chair – Dr Neil Woodford
- NQAAP Reproductive Sciences Chair – Dr Dawn Yell
- NQAAP Haematology Chair – Dr Gordon Sinclair
- NQAAP Immunology Chair – VACANT
- DEQAS representative – Mr Jack Whitewood
- EMQN Representative – Mr Simon Patton
- HFEA Representative – Sharon Fensome-Rummer
- QPOINT Representative – Katy Heaney