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Written question asked by Kevin Barron (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 October 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 26 October 2018 (named day). It was answered by Caroline Dinenage (Conservative) on Friday, 26 October 2018 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Infectious Diseases: Diagnosis

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to reduce the geographical variation in access to high quality bacterial and viral diagnostic technology.

Answer

Public Health England (PHE) operates a number of microbiology laboratories across England which provides national coverage, regardless of geographic location, and works closely with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s devolved administrations. These laboratories complement and expand on the testing that is undertaken in a larger laboratory network operating throughout the National Health Service to provide frontline diagnostics.

PHE’s laboratories use many different diagnostic technologies, including traditional and molecular microbiological, serological and innovative genomic approaches to recognise pathogens and diagnose infections promptly. These cover infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoal parasites. The results of PHE laboratory testing are provided directly to the NHS to support patient management, to reduce risks of onwards transmission and to minimise threats to public health throughout England.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
182685
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Diagnosis Infectious diseases
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk