Pathology National Clinical Network

Pathology and laboratory services are a critical, often invisible part of patients’ healthcare - around 70% of diagnoses rely on output from pathology or laboratory services.

Laboratory tests underpin disease screening for risk factors, determination of disease severity, recovery likelihood, therapeutic selection, monitoring and investigation of adverse outcomes. They are also critical in identifying hospital acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance patterns, and in the control of infectious disease outbreaks and exposures to toxic substances.

Pathology and laboratory services are needed at multiple stages of patients’ healthcare, across community, primary, and hospital services.

The strategic objectives of the Pathology National Clinical Network are to:

• ensure mechanisms are in place so that laboratory services are developed and delivered in an equitable manner
• promote and improve the provision of laboratory services across New Zealand
• develop systems so that every eligible referrer can access the laboratory services they require on behalf of their patients
• build a strong laboratory and pathology services workforce to ensure quality delivery of services.

A workplan will be developed that is expected to include the following components:

1. Clinical/general
   Develop nationally consistent schedules including:
   • Schedule of tests – nationally agreed schedule of tests, standards and models of care
   • Referrer eligibility – address national variation and maximise support for referrers
   • New tests and process – confirmed expected new tests, potential new tests
   • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – Agree national performance measures for laboratory services and develop benchmarking processes to improve laboratory performance across the country.
2. Workforce: support Health NZ workforce planning teams to ensure adequate recruitment, retention and succession planning for:
   • pathologists
   • scientific/technical staff
3. Genomics: advise Health NZ on the application of national standards for genomics used in clinical diagnostics. 
4. Point of Care testing: advise on the appropriate safe use of Point of Care testing within the hospital and community sectors.