Newborn Blood Spot Failsafe Solution

December 2012

Northgate Information Solutions have been awarded the contract to provide the Newborn Blood Spot Failsafe Solution. This will be a web-based solution and will identify babies who have not had blood spot screening. It will also identify babies that need a repeat sample and will store the screening results. There is cross-programme collaboration with NIPE and NHSP to ensure optimal value for money and the delivery of a high quality, simple to use, effective solution. Alison Golightly has been appointed as Project Manager to lead the implementation that will roll-out across England during 2013. A flyer with information on the failsafe solution is available to download.

Previous update - November 2012

Significant proportions of blood spot screening samples fail to reach the laboratory or are delayed in transit. By the time process failures are detected (if at all), irreversible harm can be caused to babies affected by the screened conditions. Beyond the impact on the lives of affected babies and parents, the cost of additional treatment, care and lost opportunity is significant and avoidable. Further, failures in the blood spot screening process may be indicative of wider failures in the neonatal care process.

A new IT solution will be implemented across England in 2013/14 that will identify and flag up to maternity units any babies that have not been screened or require a repeat sample to be taken. The system will capture screening results for authorised staff. A limited version of the new system was piloted and analysis of the pilot data identified 2.3% of babies where blood spot screening appeared not to have been completed. The evaluation demonstrated that a national failsafe solution would enable early detection of around 4.5 screened conditions each year that would otherwise be missed. It will reduce SIs and support KPI requirements for newborn blood spot screening.

The system will be web-based and accessed by a maternity administrator or maternity support worker. The system will identify babies who have not had blood spot screening that will require to be confirmed before a visit to perform the screening test is arranged. Babies that need a repeat sample will also be identified.

Further information on the pilot (including the evaluation) and the new IT solution can be accessed below.

Previous update - December 2011

Progress update on the Blood Spot Failsafe procurement:

• The Blood Spot Failsafe Strategy Board has agreed the scope for the Blood Spot Failsafe procurement
• The procurement process has been agreed
• Resources have been allocated to the rewrite of the Blood Spot Failsafe specification
• A high level road map for Blood Spot Failsafe is being drafted
• Work has commenced on the Project Initiation Document for the Blood Spot Failsafe
• A communications strategy for the Blood Spot Failsafe project will be drafted in early 2012

Previous update - July 2011

The Fetal, Maternal and Child Health sub-group of the UK National Screening Committee approved roll-out of the failsafe solution in November 2010. The UK National Screening Committee is seeking funding for this project.