Failsafe, quality assurance and data collection
Updated 6 July 2018
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/handbook-for-sickle-cell-and-thalassaemia-screening/failsafe-quality-assurance-and-data-collection
Each NHS screening programme has a defined screening pathway.
The NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (SCT) Screening Programme has a second pathway for known at risk women and couples.
The pathways show how the individual undergoing screening moves from one stage of the pathway to the next.
Checks at each stage help ensure that the individual moves seamlessly and safely through the pathway unless they choose not to. If these checks are not in place, there is a risk that an individual does not complete the pathway, or the pathway could be unnecessarily delayed.
Quality assurance of screening programmes includes checking that these procedures and failsafe processes are in place and operating effectively.
If something goes wrong, it can easily be identified at the time it goes wrong and action taken to correct it before any harm occurs. The national programme provides guidance and an audit template.
1. Newborn blood spot failsafe solution
Maternity units across England use the newborn bloodspot failsafe solution.
It identifies babies who have missed newborn blood spot screening. This enables screening to be offered and affected babies to be identified and treated within an effective timeframe.
2. Quality assurance
The screening quality assurance service (SQAS) is responsible for:
- checking that national standards are met
- ensuring that screening programmes are safe and effective
- encouraging continuous service improvement
All maternity services in England have to submit quarterly key performance indicators (KPIs) to the national screening programmes to demonstrate performance against set standards.
Each screening programme provider must report KPI data using the appropriate reporting template. Service users, programme teams and SQAS use KPIs to help measure the performance of screening programmes.
Maternity and laboratory services are also subject to peer review, led and supported by SQAS.
It is important that any screening incidents are managed in accordance with national guidelines. Incidents must be reported via the local incident reporting systems and to the relevant SQAS team.
3. Data collection
The SCT programme collects data from a variety of sources to evaluate the delivery of the programme.
The annual data report reports performance against antenatal and newborn sickle cell and thalassaemia screening programme standards and shows trends over time.