When we first became involved in NPT support IN 1995 we indicated in our NPT
policy that it would only be effective if we controlled stock purchase and
distribution.  The argumwnt was won on a quality issue in that control over
purchase removed the problem pharmacy had in dictating the best way forward
and we found general agreement from clinicicans for the use of a cmmon test
strip types. This was done by way of questionnaire. We had two meetings with
Pharmacy chiefs and while it was heated we came away with what we required
to go forward. Pharmacy themselves did not hold the budget for the users and
we continued to xcharge users in the same way, but had direct control over
batches purchases and evaluation of further developments that would involve
chanes in products used based on 'quality issues rather than what the rep
told Pharmacists.
 
regards 
derek
-----Original Message-----  
From: Frost, Stephen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 08 July 2002 09:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: EQA costs



Following on the theme, I agree that costs of EQA should be met were
possible by the user. In principle the same could be said for training and
maintenance costs, although these may be harder to  cost objectively.

One stumbling block can be traditional NHS departmental budgeting. In our
trust, unlike blood gas costs that are handled and cross-charged to user
directorates by Biochemistry, strip costs including glucose and urinalysis
have always been handled by pharmacy. Costs now are cross-charged to user
directorates by them. Whilst I have no problem with Pharmacy's service and
we have good professional liaison, this would complicate any initiative to
include a realistic element for QA etc, which is provided by Pathology, in
Pharmacy's charges.

I would be interested to here if any Pathology Depts. have taken full
control of this process and do supply strip tests to the wards, or whether
supply of strips is universally handled by pharmacy. Have any of you grasped
the prickly nettle and transferred strip test budgeting and management from
pharmacy to patholgy? 

This is a UK perspective. How is purchase and supply of test strips handled
overseas? 

Regards 

Stephen Frost 
Clinical Biochemistry 
The Princess Royal Hospital 
Haywards Heath 

([log in to unmask] if you prefer to reply individually
rather than to the mail-base) 



-----Original Message----- 
From: Powell Julia (RC9) Luton & Dunstable Hospital TR 
[ mailto:[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ] 
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 4:25 PM 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: EQA costs 


Dear Chris 
Similar problems are experienced here. In principle the cost of the EQA must

be met by the users else the costs for both POCT and Laboratory tests are 
distorted. But a high level of diplomacy may be required. 
Julia Powell 
Chemical Pathology 
Luton and Dunstable Hospital 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Christine Hopkins 
[ mailto:[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ] 
Sent: 25 June 2002 15:13 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: EQA costs 


As a laboratory we are active in PoCT and have had a Procurement Policy for 
many years. However, we still have to deal with areas who were "unaware" of 
this policy even though it is widely available and have introduced their own

PoCT without involving the lab. We would be interested to know how others 
deal with the cost of EQA of PoCT. Should the users pay the annual fees, or 
should these costs, which in our case would be substantial, be met by the 
laboratory? Having discovered these areas not participating in EQA and 
sometimes no IQC, professionally we feel unable to ignore the situation. 

Yours Sincerely 
Chris Hopkins 

Christine Hopkins 
Point of Care Co-ordinator 
Department of Clinical Biochemistry 
Princess of Wales Hospital 
Coity Road 
Bridgend 
Mid Glamorgan 
CF31 1RQ 
Tel: 01656 752331 
Fax: 01656 752332 


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