On 3rd June 2010, Dr Ian Barnes, National Clinical Director for Pathology, wrote to Strategic Health Authority Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) Leads regarding implementation of the Carter Review of Pathology recommendation to consolidate services.

Dr Ian Barnes letter to SHA QIPP Pathology Leads – 3 June .

Dr Barnes says that “The case for consolidation is based on the activity and cost data collected from a representative sample of NHS pathology pilot sites in England”.

The details of the activity and cost data appear to be shrouded in secrecy.

On 11th August 2010, in response to a Freedom of Information response for details of the data, the Department of Health replied:

“You requested the activity and cost data, which is the basis of the case for consolidation. I am afraid that the Department does not hold this information, as it was submitted to the Independent Review in confidence and as such, the Review did not share it with the Department”.

It will be interesting to see how the Department is going to be able to demonstrate that pathology reconfigurations across the country demonstrate  “clarity on the clinical evidence base”, (one of the four tests for Service Reconfiguration), when the Department claims that it does not possess the clinical activity evidence and cost data evidence for consolidation.