The Government has provided an answer to Steve Race MP’s written question which raised BIVDA’s recent policy declaration on community diagnostics and asked the Government’s opinion of the merits of appointing a National Diagnostics Director. Mr Race wrote the foreword for our policy declaration and attended our parliamentary drop-in in April.
The Government’s answer, in full, is as follows:
The Department regularly reflects on and reviews the most appropriate structure for senior civil servant roles, to ensure it aligns with Governments priorities, including the delivery of the three big shifts, such as moving from hospital to community services.
There currently exists a Director for Electives and Cancer in the Department, whose responsibility includes diagnostics, as well as a Director of Diagnostics and Transport in NHS England, and their respective teams work closely together. Ensuring the National Health Service can deliver the right amount of diagnostic care to deliver on the 18-week Referral to Treatment constitutional standard by March is a priority across both the Department and NHS England.
We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future. The plan will deliver three big shifts mentioned, including moving from hospital to community services. We will therefore see more tests and scans in the community, in high street settings, reducing the need for people to take multiple trips to hospitals to get diagnosed.
While the Government has not committed to appointing a National Diagnostics Director, we will continue to work with ministers and civil servants to remind them of the value that this role would bring in highlighting the importance of diagnostics and ensuring improved implementation across pathways.
Lord Hacking’s debate on supporting integration of diagnostics in primary and community care settings, coordinated by BIVDA, will proceed on 5th June. This will highlight another key recommendation from our policy declaration and forms another key strand of Parliamentary advocacy following the document’s publication.
