April 2022 - Atlas of Variation (AoV) - Launch
The National Demand Optimisation Group has developed an Atlas of Variation to help tackle unwarranted variation. The AoV was officially launched on Friday 1st April 2022. It contains monthly data on NHS board primary care requesting totals for a specific suite of blood science tests from cancer, cardiac, diabetes and other general pathways. It consists of three separate dashboards that allow GP practices to compare their request rates with their cluster, health board, peer group and national rates.
Further information on the Atlas of Variation including a User Guidance can be found here.
July 2021 - Blood Tube Shortage
A possible supply disruption in relation to Becton Dickinson’s (BD) Blood Specimen Collection Portfolio has been notified for the United Kingdom, although shortages are emerging worldwide. BD have reported the cause of this disruption as due to a combination of increased global demand (driven by COVID-19), vaccine clotting risks, and re- establishment of elective services. National procurement sources have advised that the shortage is exacerbated a result of a shut-down of the BD’s primary production facility in Plymouth during August for essential planned maintenance.
This mainly affects specific blood tube types, some of which are used across many NHS Scotland health board sites. It is however likely that supply disruption could occur across a much wider portfolio of BD blood tubes and even spread to those provided by other manufacturers as supply chains seek products elsewhere. This disruption to supplies is likely to last for several months and possibly longer.
Guidance is currently available for supply chains, laboratory services and clinical services via the following links:
Circular: Supply Disruption of BD Vacutainer Blood Specimen Collection Tubes
Database: Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates
Work carried out by the Scottish National Demand Optimisation Group would suggest a significant amount of unwarranted variation in lab test use exists across Scotland. Given the threat of blood tube shortages, it is vital that changes in blood test ordering behaviour impact on the use of actual blood tube numbers being used rather than the number of tests ordered. Such change in practice needs to be driven by senior managers, clinicians, scientists and nurses, down through their respective clinical teams to ensure blood tube use is minimised, but that vital clinical services are maintained during this period of uncertain supply chains.
May 2021 - Advancing Healthcare Awards 2021
We are delighted to announce that the Scottish National Demand Optimisation Group (NDOG) was shortlisted as a finalist for the Advancing Healthcare Awards 2021 in the – Scottish Government award for Driving Improvement, Delivering Results category.
The Scottish National Demand Optimisation Group did not win on the day but were delighted to be shortlisted finalists none the less.
Nov 2020 - RCPath Award Winners!
The Demand Optimisation Group was recently nominated for, and has subsequently received, an award from the Royal College of Pathologists for Innovation in Pathology Practice!
While a full ceremony was obviously off the cards this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the group did receive the award virtually at an online event run by the College.
Many thanks to everyone who has supported the work of the group thus far and made this award possible.
Diagnostic Network Laboratory Roadshows
The interactive Atlas of Variation was shown at recent Diagnostic Network Laboratory Roadshows and was received well by staff. A series of roadshows are planned across Scotland over the coming months.
