The National Quality Assurance Advisory Panels (NQAAP) are professional groups which have executive responsibility for maintaining satisfactory standards of analytical and interpretative work in laboratories in the UK, whether in the private or in the public sector, in which investigations are performed for the detection, diagnosis or management of disease in humans. The Royal College of Pathologists, the Institute of Biomedical Science and two or three other appropriate professional bodies each nominate one member, who normally serve for four years. The Chairperson of each of the Panels reports to the Joint Working Group on Quality Assurance
https://www.rcpath.org/profession/committees/jwgqa.html
The Panels work closely with the Organisers of the relevant UK NEQAS and other approved EQA schemes, who bring to their attention laboratories whose performance and/or frequency of returns are judged unsatisfactory by criteria agreed by the Panels with the appropriate Steering Committee. At this stage the Panels identify the laboratory only by code. A Panel reviews information provided by the Organiser and if it decides to intervene in the case of a particular laboratory, the Chairman writes a 'Dear Colleague' letter, which is forwarded to the laboratory by the Organiser. This asks about problems which have been identified and remedial action taken and offers to provide help and advice. Recipients are assured of the professional relationship which exists between the Panel and participants and are invited to disclose their identity when they reply. If a participant remains anonymous, choosing not to disclose their identity to the Panel Chairman, and the poor performance continues, the Panel Chairman will then ask the Organiser for the address of the laboratory. The Panel Chairman will then communicate directly with the Head of Department. NQAAP CHAIRS
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Division
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Chairman
| | Reproductive Science | Dr Bryan Woodward
| | Chemical Pathology | Dr P Twomey
Department of Clinical Biochemistry
Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road,
Ipswich, IP4 5PD | | Genetics | Dr Jonathan Waters
| | Haematology | Dr Richard Soutar
Department of Haematology
Garnatvel General Hospital
Paul O'Gorman Building
21 Shelley Road
Glasgow | | Histopathology | Dr Nicholas Mapstone
Department of Histopathology
Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Lancaster | | Immunology | Dr Mark Gompels
Dept of Allergy and Immunology
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road&
Westbury-on-Trym
BRISTOL | | Microbiology | Dr Tony Elston
Department of Microbiology
Colchester General Hospital
Colchester | | Cellular Pathology | Dr David Hughes Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation | |
