GP direct access pathology prices

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group,

Please advise whether you currently pay for GP direct access pathology:
- on a block contract basis; or,
- an average price per test overall; or,
- an average price per test by specialty (eg £x for chemistry, £y for microbiology); or,
- a specific price per test.

If the latter, please advise the price currently paid for each of the following tests:

Full blood count
U&E profile*
Liver function test profile*
Parathyroid hormone
Ferritin, or TSAT
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Hepatitis C
HIV
Aluminium
Cholesterol
HBa1c
Folate deficiency
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D
Blood culture
IV antibiotic tests

* if parameters priced separately:
Urea
Electrolytes
Creatinine
Bicarbonate
Calcium
Phosphate
Alkaline Phosphatase
Albumin

Yours faithfully,

hugh risebrow