Below is an email that I have recently sent to UKAS and DHSC regarding the recent requirement that clinicians who provide sample taking for COVID testing (PCR SWAB) undergo accreditation with UKAS, as if clinicians are not well regulated already.

The bizarre thing is that it only applies to private providers. One wonders given then recent stir regarding the NHS having a go at private medicine this is part of a larger picture, which is much more worrying!

UKAS accreditation

We took part in a webinar provided by UKAS today regarding the information that clinicians need for stage two of the accreditation process. They informed us two days ago that we have less than one week to complete the application of the stage 2 process (we only found out then what we need to provide). Then the actual stage 2 process of accreditation is unbelievable and as you know goes on until June/July 2021! And that’s not even looking at stage three which we know nothing about.

It is clear, and what we suspected, that the whole accreditation process is unbelievably onerous time-consuming and I suspect that many clinicians will simply drop out. Maybe that is the governments wish.

As a small practice with seven and half thousand patients, one full time clinician one full-time admin employee and one part-time admin employee, we simply do not have the resources to carry out this unbelievably badly judged the process never mind the time that it would take and the stress that would involve and expense.

Why they think patients doing their own samples can be better than clinicians I have no idea.

They also slightly let the cat out of the bag when somebody asked the question about tests funded by the government in different environments such as care homes, schools, work et cetera. They were very clear that anyone taking samples in this environment as long as they were using government funded tests do not need to have UKAS accreditation for sample taking. This means that for example, care home staff (non-clinicians) can carry on taking samples for care home residents and not need UKAS accreditation, as long as they are using NHS/government tests.

Private providers/clinicians taking samples have obviously been asked to go through this process if they want to carry on taking samples.

Given the recent stir in the press regarding the NHS having a go at the private medical sector you just wonder whether this is just part of a larger process which is of course quite worrying.

The takeaway is that there is something in the region of 250 -300 separate policy documents/evidence to provide. There will also be numerous documents from TDL (lab) that clinicians will need to request. Have you made TDL aware that they will be inundated by clinicians (at least those willing to go through the UKAS accreditation)?

The financial costs are also quite high outside of the £1700 we’ve already paid to start the process. You have to buy the ISO from BSI. UKAS normally spend six days at the practice of the applicant which is charged out usually at £1213 per day. For this process they seem to be shortening it to perhaps just 1/ 2 or one day visit. Once stage two is done then there is stage three and we have no idea at this stage what that actually entails. Then there is the ongoing accreditation cost which is approximately £947 per day and we have no idea how often these have to take place or for how many days.

We’ve now made the decision that we’re also going to drop out and so just continue with DHSC to be able to provide self-administered samples.

I would request that you let me know how I obtain a refund off the £1700 that I have already paid. It is clear that until 2 days ago clinicians I no idea of the process and I suspect many clinicians will out drop out and will also be asking for refunds, what is clearly a very poorly thought out process.

We are already busy people trying to help our patients in a very difficult situation. I am absolutely stunned as are many of my colleagues what you are actually trying to do.

The effect of this will be to affect patient care, I cannot believe patients doing self sample testing or some of the stuff I see on TV regarding swab testing provided by the government/NHS is anywhere near as good as a proper clinician. For example when you doing a nasal swab it needs to be inserted horizontally, so much of what we see on the TV shows sample testers inserting it vertically, no wonder people think it’s going into their brain!

Thanks

Gerry