Development of a covid-19 PCR testing pathway for key workers and care homes

Self, Mary C.; Mehrpooya, Neda

The Doctors Laboratory Group (TDL) has provided pathology testing for over thirty years, twenty of those as NHS partners. TDL runs a national network of UKAS accredited hub and spoke laboratories. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic TDL Group, has supported:Pillar 1 NHS PCR Covid-19 testsFrancis Crick Institute and UCL Pillar 2Pillar 3 antibody testingPillar 4 research projectsMedCity surge capacityLondon Nightingale HospitalTesting for professional sport, media and commerceIn late April Brent and Harrow CCGs required a Covid-19 PCR testing pathway for symptomatic key workers and suspected care home outbreaks. Brent and Harrow were named the top two London Boroughs worst affected by Covid-19 deaths, with Brent topping the UK data for Covid-19 deaths.Covid- 19 Hubs and Rapid Response Teams were formed with logistics, IT connectivity and training for electronic requesting and reporting all signed-off within 6 days. Pivotal to this success were Lead Contacts who overcame challenges from testing in non-standard locations, co-ordinating Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT) across organisations, new social distancing and lockdown rules, international shortages of consumables, identifying key worker and patient requests for rapid notification of results and NHSE reporting.Fundamental to the project’s success were strong Leads for each organisation who understood their team skills so tasks were appropriately delegated. Leads worked together to maintain momentum, set actions and deadlines, provide rapid resolution to queries or potential stumbling blocks and praise teams on work achieved, promoting ongoing engagement.Covid-19 testing is key to preventing virus spread and the protection of patients. The hub-spoke model underpinning The Doctors Laboratory Group has proven to be highly adaptable and resilient to exponential, rapid growth. This project’s success demonstrates that with the right leadership big changes can happen over a few days.