POCT network

Overview

The NHS Wales POCT Strategy Group brings together health board POCT managers and co-ordinators and clinical leads for POCT; specialists in imaging and physiological medicine including cardiology and respiratory; university researchers; NHS procurement managers; and informatics leads from Digital Heath and Care Wales (DHCW).

Each of the seven health boards across Wales are represented, as well as Public Health Wales, the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Velindre NHS Trust.

The All Wales POCT Delivery Group comprises POCT managers and co-ordinators from across Wales in order to discuss the implementation of new POCT programmes, share best practice and feed back on quality and safety issues. Input is also received from procurement and informatics.

For a reflection on the Wales POCT Network and future vision, explore this summary and presentation.

Activities of the network

To oversee the governance of POCT in Wales
To oversee the All Wales POCT IT Connectivity Strategy (WPoCT)
To facilitate procurement and frameworks
To ensure compliance to accreditation standards and NICE guidance
To ensure compliance to national and local guidelines for Point of Care Testing
To oversee all training and competency assessment requirements for Point of Care Testing
To audit, evaluate and monitor clinical effectiveness
To ensure safe and quality assured testing for patients

Governance

Each health board in Wales has its own POCT organisational and governance structure.

In most health boards, dedicated POCT teams are responsible for the oversight of the acquisition, implementation and monitoring of POCT services to local and national standards.

POCT managers or co-ordinators and POCT clinical leads meet with local POCT stakeholders in health board POCT committees to develop policies, approve new business cases, discuss resourcing and escalate safety concerns.