GPs and pathologists launch advice to improve
out-of-hours reporting of abnormal test results
Advice for GPs and pathologists to improve the reporting of
abnormal test results out-of-hours has been developed by The Royal
College of Pathologists (RCPath) and The Royal College of General
Practitioners (RCGP).
The document has been produced in response to
instances where laboratory staff have been unable to find an
appropriate primary care physician to act urgently on a markedly
abnormal test result.
Containing advice for GPs, Primary Care
Trusts, out-of-hours providers and laboratory staff, the document
highlights three key problem areas in reporting and acting on
abnormal results:
- lack of information over whom to contact outside GP surgery
opening hours
- staff at the out-of-hours provider failing to appreciate the
importance of the abnormal result and not taking appropriate
responsibility
- staff at the out-of-hours provider being unable to contact the
patient and/or unable to access patient records.
The document recommends that stakeholders work
together at a local level to develop an appropriate system to
ensure good communication out of hours.
Specifically, PCTs should inform the
laboratory of arrangements for making contact with a GP out of
hours; GPs who request tests must provide sufficient patient
details and clinical information to allow effective communication
between the lab and the out-of-hours provider; and, crucially,
engagement and dialogue must be promoted across the whole local
urgent care network.
The document also identifies a need for a
protocol for the laboratory to report lack of response from
out-of-hours providers and a system to be put in place to quality
assure abnormal results.
Professor Adrian Newland, President of the
Royal College of Pathologists, says: “Our intention is that this
document will be used as a basis on which pathologists can
construct local guidelines to address current problems with the
reporting of results and to ensure a good working relationship with
out-of-hours providers.”
Professor Steve Field, Chairman of the Royal
College of General Practitioners, says: “This document is essential
for primary care teams and pathologists. Whether we are dealing
with results which show that an individual requires immediate
medical attention, or those that may have implications for public
health, an effective system for reporting and acting on abnormal
test results will ultimately lead to better patient care.”
Ends
Please read on for Out-of-hours reporting of
markedly abnormal laboratory test results to primary care: Advice
to pathologists
For further information please contact Lorna Fletcher, RCGP
Press Office 020 7344 3136 / press@rcgp.org.uk or Caroline
Shaw, Royal College of Pathologists Press Office on 020 7451 6752 /
07970 790 902 caroline.shaw@rcpath.org
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Out-of-hours reporting of markedly abnormal laboratory test
results to primary care: Advice to pathologists is available
to download from The Royal College of Pathologists website www.rcpath.org/publications
and the RCGP website http://www.rcgp.org.uk/
- The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership
organisation committed to the excellence in the practice of
pathology. Its 8500 Members and Fellows work in hospital
laboratories, universities and industry worldwide. Undertaking
post-mortem examinations is only a small part of the work of
members of the College. The main specialties of pathology are
clinical biochemistry, cytopathology, forensic pathology, genetics,
haematology, histocompatibility and immunogenetics, histopathology,
immunology, microbiology, neuropathology, paediatric pathology,
toxicology, transfusion medicine, veterinary pathology and
virology.
- The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of over
30,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work
to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical
practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training,
research and clinical standards.
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