About us
The Quality Assurance Reference Centres (QARCs) are NHS bodies whose role is to monitor and maintain standards of service, performance and quality across the screening programmes, and to promote and lead the continual pursuit of excellence in these services.
South Central Screening QARC, based in Oxford, covers the population of the South Central Strategic Health Authority with a resident population of approx 4 million.
In the South Central region there are currently 9 Primary Care Trusts which commission services, 2 Call/Recall units which invite patients for screening & send results, 9 Breast screening units, 8 Cytology laboratories, 13 Colposcopy units and 5 Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes.
Data returns provided by the units allow the performance of the programme to be monitored and compared with national standards and targets. South Central QARC works closely with PCTs and Trusts to encourage improvements to systems and assist staff to provide the data required.
QA visits to all parts of the programme take place every three to four years. Data from the statistical returns are considered at these visits together with discussions with staff about screening standards and peer review of aspects of programme performance. Recommendations are made in a report that is circulated to the clinicians, Trust management, relevant commissioners, Cancer networks, DsPH networks and the National Programme team.
What is Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance aims to maintain minimum standards while encouraging the continued striving for excellence. The process of quality assurance ensures that quality systems are in place and that agreed standards are met.
Quality Assurance is a fundamental part of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes (NHSCSP). The aim of quality assurance in the NHSCSP is to maintain minimum standards and to improve the performance of all aspects of cancer screening in order to ensure that the population have access to a high quality screening service wherever they live.
The functions of the QARC
The QARC’s main roles are to:
- Support both commissioners and service providers. Contribute to the specification, commissioning and delivery of screening programmes.
- Act as a resource to provide specialist advice and expertise on screening.
- Coordinate QA activities between and within professions.
- Monitor and review the performance and effectiveness of the QA mechanisms in each individual screening service.
- Devise and operate robust monitoring arrangements and check that screening services are delivered to the highest levels of quality, safety and efficiency.
- Devise, implement and operate quality systems which maintain a multidisciplinary approach to QA, include collection and review of data, provide a programme of QA visits and follow up, enable problems to be identified and responded to at an early stage - ensuring action is taken by the appropriate individual/organisation, support the achievement of necessary changes and be prepared to involve service commissioners and specialists in the government office as appropriate.
- Contribute to the development of national policy by identifying and promoting key areas of development, which are evidence-based. When approved ensure these initiatives are implemented and promoted in a timely and effective manner.
- Develop and implement effective communication systems to ensure clear lines of communication at local, regional and national level.
Essential Components of QA
- A QA director who reports to and is accountable to Regional Director of Public Health (RDPH).
- Working in close partnership and collaboration with the National Office of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.
- A multidisciplinary QA team which undertakes regular QA visits
- Coordination of professional activity within the professionals working in screening programmes.
- Overseeing and validation of Department of Health returns.
- Being a key part of the team for handling screening incidents.
- Contribution to the development of health improvement programmes.
- Seeking to establish that screening services are properly reflected within service level agreements and financial arrangements
- Participation in national audit and EQA activities e.g. BASO audit, EQA.
Colposcopy Study Day
Presentations from the recent study day are available to registered users here.